Pakistan Baseball Team debuts in the World Baseball Classic Competition

The Pakistan baseball team left Lahore for Brooklyn, New York on Sunday where they would participate in World Baseball Classic’s  qualification round which starts  from Thursday.

The team visit is scheduled from 22 to 25 September. The team will take part in the qualifiers of the World Baseball Classic at MCU Park, Brooklyn. The team will fight for 16^th and final entry in the World Baseball Classic competition. This event will be held in Los Angles next year.

There are other three teams here to compete this qualifier round:

• Brazil
• Britain
• Israel

The team comprises of 26 members with four officials. The Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) has also hired American Coach, John Goulding, for one month to flourish the skills of the Pakistani team. According to the  schedule, Pakistan team will play:

• First Match with Brazil on September 22.
• Second Match with Britian on September 23.
• Third Match with Isreal on September 25 (if the Pakistani team will defeat Brazil and Britain teams).

Syed Khawar Shah, President of PFB, who brought baseball to Pakistan in 1992, said, “ The national team is excited and actively participating in a training session during the camp period. They are good in health and shape. It is a great opportunity for the team to build up a name for Pakistan in the baseball history”

The Pakistan baseball team is facing difficulties. They are unfamiliar with the ground. They could not have the opportunity to practice a lot during raining session last month. Federation lacks with limited funds available and most important, there are no real stadiums for baseball in Pakistan.

Besides, the Pakistan baseball team is hoping to give its best in the ground. They are training so hard to grab the 16^th position in the World Baseball Classic competition.

Syed Fakhar Ali Shah, Executive Director of PFB, said, “It is not about winning or losing, it is about learning.”

The following teams already qualified for the World Baseball Classic event are:

1. Mexico
2. Puerto Rico
3. United States
4. Venezuela
5. Australia
6. Canada
7. Chinese Taipei
8. Netherlands
9. Republic of Korea
10. Cuba
11. Dominican Republic
12. China
13. Colombia
14. Italy
15. Japan