ISLAMABAD - mohsin ali - Powerful Pakistan pounced arch-rivals India 11-0 to retain the 12th West Asian Baseball Cup title here at the outer stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Friday.
Iran ensured silver medal by beating Iraq 18-4 in the last match of the event. Pakistan started the match knowing they had almost retained the title as Iran although beat Iraq in the earlier match, but Pakistan just needed to score 3 runs to grab title, Pakistan started the match brimming with confidence such was their moral and self belief they rested 7 key players, which include skipper Umair Bhatti, player of the cup Inayat Niazi and Abu Bakr, while 3 players made their international debus, it was wonderful occasion for Rauf, Mohsin and Hidayat Ullah, who started their international journey and got national blazer.
India, batting first, failed to score in their first innings, and same was the case with Pakistan. India failed to open their account in the second innings too, but Pakistan managed to score two runs. The third innings also proved unlucky for India who couldn’t open their account while Pakistan added three more runs. The fourth innings too saw India failing to score while Pakistan contributed three more.
India failed to score in the fifth innings, while Pakistan added another two runs, India must have to score in the sixth innings, but couldn’t do so, while Pakistan, needing a single run to retain title, scored the required runs racing to 11-0, which compelled umpires declare Pakistan winner after six innings under international rules.
Javed was hero for Pakistan as he made two runs and also a homerun, while Ahsan, Arsalan, Sumair, Adnan, Waqas and Burhan scored a run each. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan remained unbeaten in the entire event and didn’t concede a single run. It was Pakistan's 23rd match and Pakistan managed to win all the international matches they had played so far.
Pakistan Baseball Federation (PBF) president Khawar Shah was the chief guest on the occasion, while PSB DDG Agha Amjedullah, DDG M Shahid, deputy director Azam Dar, director media Shazia Ijaz, assistant director hostels Malik Imtiaz Hussain, security officer M Ashraf along with other dignitaries and pack to capacity crowd were also present on the occasion. Soon after Pakistan beat India, the spectators invaded the pitch and started dancing on drum beats. It was a carnival like situation, as the players were hugging each other and celebrating the victory.
The chief guest distributed prizes among the teams and players. Pakistan was handed over glittering trophy and gold medals while Iran received silver and India bronze medals. Pakistan's Inayatullah Niazi was declared the best pitcher of the cup, India's Amit best catcher, Iran's captain Kawan best fielder and Pakistan's Sumair Nawaz was declared the best batter.
It is pertinent to mention here that Deputy Director General Facilities Agha Amjedullah and his team did superb job as they defied heavy rain and made the event remarkable while assistant director hostels Malik Imtiaz Hussain and his team provided best facilities to the visiting teams who highly lauded their services. Instead of the recognizing his services, PSB DG Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera issued him a show-cause notice which is quite unfortunate. The IPC Minister should look into this matter and ensure justice to the deserving ones.