KARACHI, April 29: The Pakistan team returned home from Colombo on Tuesday after securing second position in the fifth SAARC bridge championship.

Five countries took part in the event.

“We came close to win the title but six points carry over helped India to retain the title,” team leader Tariq Rasheed Khan said.

“It was fantastic performance as Pakistan team had failed to qualify for semi-finals in the last competition,” he added.

Pakistan had the services of Rashid-ul-Ghazi, Shouq Hussain, Javed Khalid, Masood Mazhar, Tehsin Gheewala and Tariq Rasheed Khan. They won two of three segments final but the Indians were helped by the carry over.

“Indians are far ahead of us in bridge standard but we offered them a great challenge. Securing second place is a big boost for us,” the team leader comment.

He said Dhaka would host the next edition of the championship in 2010. If Dhaka fails to organise the event, Pakistan would organise it.

Tariq Rasheed, who is also the secretary of the Pakistan Bridge Federation, said preliminary trials to select teams from Sindh for the National championship will be held at the Aslam Bridge Hall from May 1 to 4. While the final trials will be held from May 21 to 25.—APP