The Pakistan Federation Baseball has announced an 18-member team for the 10th West-Asia Baseball Cup to be held at the Punjab Stadium here from March 23 to 28. Meanwhile, the Iran team has also reached Lahore on Wednesday to take part in the event in which Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are also the participants, besides Pakistan.
The team was selected from the 32 probables, who have been imparting training from Korean coach Hwang Hoon Dong since March 1 at the Iqbal Stadium here.
Catcher Imtiaz Ali has been named as captain of the Pakistan team. Arif Ali and Nisar Ahmad, two former international baseball players are appointed as coaches to work with Dong Head Coach Assistant Manager Maj Umer and Manager team Khawar Shah.
The team has five pitchers namely Ihsanullah, Muhammad Usman, Mohammad Asif, Israr Ahmed, Tauseef Ahmed. Batters are Arshad Ali Khan, Nasir Nadeem Butt, Arslan Jamshed, Mussadiq Hanif, Muhammad Iftikhar, Muhammad Arif, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Farooq Khan, Muhammad Asif Mushtaq, Imtiaz Ali and Sumair Zawar. Two catchers are Umair Bhatti and Arif Hussain.
Meanwhile, the PFB has made changes in the draws of the event after the arrival of Sri Lankan team was delayed. Earlier, Pakistan had to face Sri Lanka in the opener. But now Iran will be playing against Pakistan in the opening match on March 23. Both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are scheduled to reach Lahore late on Thursday night.
Revised draws
March 23: Pakistan vs Iran.
March 24: Pakistan vs Afghanistan.
March 25: Sri Lanka vs Iran.
March 26: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan.
March 27: Afghanistan vs Iran.
March 28: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka.
