Pakistan make a winning start

Defeat Iran in one-sided baseball encounter.

KARACHI: Pakistan opened their campaign on a winning note, defeating Iran 11-0 in their South West Asia Cup encounter in Lahore yesterday.

Pakistan, tipped as favourites in the four-nation baseball event, were indebted to pitchers Asif Hussain, Mohammad Israr and Hafiz Usman who made sure Iran’s nine innings remained scoreless.

Batter Arshad Khan hit four home runs as Pakistan recorded a convincing win in the tournament, which will see the top two teams qualify for the Asian Championship to be held in October.

“It’s exciting and sort of sets the tone for us,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “We expected a better show from Iran but this has definitely put us in a good position. We’re confident of making it to the Asian Championship.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2012.