Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report Parana (Argentina): As many as 12 national teams will compete at the inaugural WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, to be played in Parana, Argentina, from 15-23 April. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced the 12 participating teams and groups of the inaugural WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, to be played in Parana, Argentina, from 15-23 April. Names of participating countries: South Africa, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Team WBSC, Japan, Singapore, Czechia, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Canada The event was originally scheduled to be played in Argentina in October 2022 before being postponed. After opening a new bidding process to host the tournament, the WBSC Executive Board awarded Argentina the hosting rights for this event in 2023. The maiden edition of the WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup will be played at Nafaldo Cargnel Stadium in Parana. This will be the second World Cup to be hosted in this venue, since the Junior Men’s Softball World Cup 2012 was played in this diamond. Teams Groups: Group A: Argentina, Australia, Czechia, Mexico, South Africa, Singapore Group B: Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Venezuela, Team WBSC*, Israel The top three finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round. The finals are set for Saturday, 23 April. Due to the postponement of the event, the age limit for the tournament has been extended to allow all eligible players in 2022 to compete in the tournament in April next year.

faisal ISLAMABAD: West Asian Baseball Champions, Pakistan outclassed arch-rival India 12-1 in a friendly baseball match here at the international baseball arena at the premises of Pakistan Sports Complex on Thursday. Pakistan’s Zakir Hussain, Waseem Akram, and Shahzad Ahmed hit two scores each while Ikramullah, Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Younis, Nasir Malangi, Mohammad Hussain Junior, and Abdullah made one run each during the 9 innings fixture. India's solitary run was scored by Shahabuddin. The friendly match was organized under the auspices of Pakistan Federation Baseball and was part of the anticipated three-match Indo-Pak series in India under the Baseball United Baseball League. 

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan stunned Palestine 11-3 in the final of the West Asia Baseball Cup 2023 here at the International Baseball Arena of Pakistan Sports Complex on Wednesday. Also, Green Shirts confirmed their berth in Asian Baseball Cup and Asian Games after showing an acceptable performance in the West Asia Baseball Cup. In the final, Pakistan outclassed Palestine, who defeated defending champions Sri Lanka in the pool match at the same venue. Captain Faqir Hussain hit 3 runs while Arslan Jamshed, Mohammad Hussain, and Fazal Khan made two runs each for their team. Shehzad Ahmed and Mohammad Younis were other scorers of the match, as both batters hit one run each. Ibrahim Shalabi (1), Ramiz Yasin (1), and Younis Halim (1) were the batters, who scored for Palestine. Earlier, for the third position play-off encounter, experienced Sri Lanka crushed Bangladesh 3-1 runs to earn third position in the West Asia Baseball Cup 2023. Amila, Sindon and Roshan scored one run each from Sri Lanka while Mohammad Musabbaral scored the only run from Bangladesh. Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Liaison Ehsanur Rehman Mazari and American Ambassador in Islamabad Donald Bloom were the chief guests of the final. American Ambassador Donald Bloom distributed the medals and trophies along with President, Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) Syed Fakhr Ali Shah.

Sports Bulletin Report Druskininkai (Lithuania): Baseball5 European Championship 2023 is scheduled for November in the southern city of Druskininkai. The winner and the runner-up will qualify for the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024. WBSC Europe announced that the Baseball5 European Championship will return to Lithuania for its second edition. The tournament, which will qualify the winner and the runner-up to the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024, is scheduled for November at the Lithuanian Sports Complex in Druskininkai, a city in southern Lithuania, not far from the border with Belarus and Poland.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan and Palestine have qualified for the final of the 15th West-Asia Baseball Cup 2023 after winning their respective semifinals here at the International Baseball Arena, Pakistan Sports Complex on Tuesday. The final will be played on Wednesday at the same venue. Greens Shirts outclassed defending champions Sri Lanka by 15 runs in a single-side contest. Sri Lanka, who had won this title back-to-back in 2017 and 2019, failed to produce any notable performance in the do-or-die fixture. A home run by Wasim Akram was the hit of the day, as he scored 3 runs. The final score was 16-1 after 5 innings. Also, skipper Faqir Hussain, Arslan Jamshad, and Mohammad Younis hit three scores each for Pakistan. Mohammad Hussain and Asad Ali contributed two runs each in Pakistan’s total of 16 runs in 5 innings. Krishna hit a single run for his team in the 3rd innings of the second semifinal. While talking to this reporter, Sri Lankan captain Sameera Sampth Rathnike said that they failed to produce up-to-mark results in the key match of the 7-nation fixture. “Our batting, fielding, and pitching were not good against hosts and we were expecting the final against Pakistan. Palestine proved a dark horse for us and we conceded that pool match. Before coming here, we were focusing on only Pakistan. Umpiring standard was very poor in the match, “he lamented. In his post-match comments, the head coach of the Pakistan team, Nisar Ahmed said it was a big match for Pakistan, as we had lost two previous competitions in a row against Sri Lanka in 2017 and 2019 in the West Asia fixtures. “Our players toiled hard on the ground and did well in all three departments of the game pitching, fielding, and batting. It was a joint effort and brilliant teamwork that guided us towards a massive and historical triumph, “he said. Earlier, in the first semifinal, Palestine trounced Bangladesh 14-3 to reach the final of the regional baseball showpiece. Daylan Renard (2), Maalik Abdullah (2), Ibrahim (2), Younas Haleem (2), Tarik Elabdur (2), Elias Atiyeh (2), Tariq Subohi (1) and Ameer Abdullah (1) were the scorer of the winners’ side. Imran Khan (1), Jony Haque (1) and Redom Hussain (1) hit the run for Bangladesh. Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Liaison Ehsanur Rehman Mazari will be the chief guest of the final while Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Chairman CDA Nurul Amin Mengal will be the guest of honor. An exhibition match will also be played between traditional rivals Pakistan and India on Thursday. Wednesday's Fixtures: Third position (Play-off): Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at 9 am Final Pakistan vs Palestine at 1 am.  

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh overcame Afghanistan 12-2 runs in their last pool match to confirm top-4 stage of the West Asia Baseball Cup 2023 at the Islamabad Sports Complex on Sunday. Also, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Palestine had already qualified for super four stage. On Sunday, in the morning session, Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 12-2 runs. Imran Khan, Jony, Mosabirul scored 2 runs each for the winners while Redoan Hussain, Abdul Salam, Shahid Ahmed, Ameen Hussain, Mohammad Rippon, Dibaqar contributed 1 run each. Abdul Ghafoor and Dilawar scored 1 run each from Afghanistan. In the second match, India outclassed Nepal 15-0 to post their first victory in the tournament. Ankit Joshe and Rukaish scored 4 runs each for India. Gurjanj hit 2 runs while Nandan, Narindar, Shihabuddin, Sulkiffal and Lakhan Lal smashed 1 run each. In the last league match, Palestine beat defending champions Sri Lanka 10-0. Daylan Renard and Ibrahim Shalabi scored 3 runs each while Malik Abdullah and Tariq Suboh contributed 2 runs each including one home run by Abdullah. Governor Gigit Syed Mehdi Shah was the chief guest while Ambassador of Palestine Ahmed Rabei was the guest of honor to whom Pakistan Federation Baseball President and BFA Vice President Syed Fakhar Ali Shah introduced the teams and officials. According to Media Manager PFB Parvez Ahmad Sheikh, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Palestine will compete in the super four league rounds. Top two teams will qualify for the final. On Monday, Palestine will meet Bangladesh in the first match of the day while Pakistan to face Sri Lanka afternoon.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The Green Shirts have moved into the semifinal of the West-Asia Baseball Cup 2023 after defeating Bangladesh 14-0 in their second pool B match here at International Baseball Ground, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Saturday. In the second match, Palestine defeated Nepal 22-0 runs in their first international match. In the third match, defending champions Sri Lanka stunned India 11-2 in the last fixture of the day. On the second day, former Director General of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Dr Akhtarnawaz Ganjira and Deputy DG Shahid Islam were the chief guests. Pakistan Federation Baseball President Fakhr Ali Shah was also present on this occasion. Sunday’s Fixtures: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 9:00 am India vs Nepal 12:00 pm Palestine vs Sri Lanka 3:00 pm.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan and defending champions Sri Lanka have clinched immense victories on the opening day of the West-Asia Baseball Cup 2023 at the Baseball ground, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Friday. In the opening match of the day, Pakistan outclassed Afghanistan by 17-0, as the shinning performances of skipper Faqir Hussain and Wasim Akram, who scored 3 and 2 runs respectively, as a home-run of Wasim was the most notable moment of the tournament so far. Meanwhile, in the second encounter, defending champions Sri Lanka outplayed Nepal 26-0 in the 4 innings, as the Islanders were at the peak to show their game skill against a low-ranked team at the same venue. Visitor batters of the winning team Niroshan Sriyarathna and Krishna displayed a super game and hit each four runs for their team. Sameera Sampath and Roshan Lakmal were other major contributors with three runs each in their 26 runs total.     According to an official of the Baseball Federation of Pakistan (BFP) Mohammad Ramzan Qassuori, the Indian players and officials have arrived in Pakistan after obtaining clearance from their government. Now, the West-Asia Baseball Cup will be a 7-nation international fixture, as the top two teams will get a berth in Asian Baseball Cup. India missed their opening match against Palestine and wasted 2 vital points.         

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: President, Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) Syed Fakhr Ali Shah said on Thursday evening that the Organizing Committee of West-Asia Baseball Cup 2023 would wait for India for the next 24 hours (Till Friday evening), if they would not arrive in Islamabad India team would be eliminated for the event. While talking to media persons at Pakistan Sports Complex along with the six participating team captains, he added that the tournament would be rolled into action on Friday, as Pakistan would meet Afghanistan in the opening fixture, as the top-two nations would qualify for the Asian Baseball Championship. “If Indian players could not get clearance from their government then there will be six nations fixture including Palestine, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the host Pakistan.” Syed Fakhr Ali Shah said that the West Asia Baseball Cup would be held from January 27 at the Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad. “The opening match will be played between Pakistan and Afghanistan at 9 am, the second match will be between Nepal and Sri Lanka at 1 am, while the third match will be between Palestine and India.” He said that no international baseball event has been held in Asia for three years due to the corona virus, and the Pakistan base team has suffered the most and Pakistan's world ranking has dropped by 12 points from 33. “The international tournament will be played under the Robin League system, all the arrangements for the tournament are complete, “he concluded.