Pakistan's basketball team pose with their medals.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan claimed silver medal in the second South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) Championship which concluded in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Monday night.

A press release issued by the national basketball federation said that hosts Bangladesh finished as the only unbeaten team in the tournament bagging the gold medal with Pakistan winning three of their four matches to take second position.

The Pakistan team will return home on Thursday.

The championship featuring South Asian teams was played on round robin basis in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium with the exception of India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan coached by Imran Bashir had absolutely no difficulty in disposing of challenges of the Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. However, they lost to hosts in a close fight.

Pakistan kicked off their campaign in an impressive fashion, brushing aside the Maldives 88-62 with green shirts dominating throughout the match.

Haris Kamal (22), Ahmad Jan (18), Mohammad Akram (17) and captain Prem Shahzad (15) played major roles in their victory.

Pakistan team were equally good in the second match against Nepal which they won 78-67 with Taghlab Ammar (23), Mohammad Akram (13) and Prem Shahzad (12) leading their team to victory.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in the next match 77-68. Pakistan outscored the hosts 20-17 and 24-19 in the first and third quarters and were just two points behind going into the final 10 minutes of the game, but the home team stretched the slim lead to a nine-point advantage by the end of the match.

Pakistan overpowered Bhutan 79-63 in their last match. Khalid Ahmed (17), Prem Shahzad (15) and Taghlab Ammar (12) were main scorers for the winning side.

SABA organised second edition of the event after the maiden tournament was held in the Indian state of Assam in 2002.

The Pakistan basketball team last took part in the 2010 South Asian Games, also held in Dhaka.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.