South Asian Games: Pakistan basketball team in search of gold

Five new faces, two experienced players will be fielded

KARACHI: The Pakistan basketball team is eager to showcase its form at the upcoming South Asian Games (SAG) where they expect to win a gold medal.

After trials, five new players — Prem Shahzad, Ahmed Jan, Tughlab, Zahid and Aaqib — who have never played an international match before were added to the squad with skipper Pervaiz Hussain and Muhammad Akhtar give the team a boost with their experience.

And according to Hussain, his side is capable of reaching its target. “Although we were given the go-ahead quite late and began our training recently [two weeks ago], the national tournaments have kept us in form and we are keen to fight for the gold,” Hussain told The Express Tribune.



“India may be the only side tough side in the event and they have the advantage  of starting their training earlier than us.”

He added that the five new players were selected based on merit and are highly motivated to bring the silver or gold medal back home.

On another note, Hussain has requested Pakistan Sports Board Director Genl Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera to shift the current camp in Lahore Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad to give them better facilities.



“The remaining days of the camp should be shifted to the Liaquat Gymnasium and we should also be allowed to leave for India a week before the tournament begins to get used to the conditions there,” he said while adding that this could be a replacement for the international tour they have missed out on.

The Games are set to begin from February 5, while the basketball event will take place February 11onwards at Guwahati in India. Participating teams besides Pakistan and the hosts include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2016.

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