Pakistan book place in West Asia Baseball Cup final

Side to play against Sri Lanka on Monday

KARACHI: Pakistan ensured a place in the finale of the 11th West Asia Baseball Cup 2013 with Sri Lanka after winning two league matches in the four-nation tournament in Lahore.

Pakistan, ranked at 23rd in world, triumphed in their second match of the tournament against Nepal 19-0 at the Punjab Stadium on Sunday.

Sumair Zawar continued his impressive form as he scored three runs for the team.

Similarly, Asif Mushtaq also contributed with his three runs in the total, while Basit Murtaza, Umair Bhatti, Abu Bakar, Zubair Nawaz, Durre Hussain and Ahsan Baig scored two runs each. Zaheer Bashir made a solitary run.

Zawar is also the highest scorer for Pakistan. Earlier, he made five runs against Afghanistan in the team’s campaign opener.

“Pakistan will win the tournament,” Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) Secretary Syed Khawar Shah told The Express Tribune.

“We usually get past other teams, but Sri Lanka always poses us tough competition. Hopefully our hard work will pay off and we will clinch the trophy.

“The winner of the tournament will qualify for the Asia Cup as well since the West Asia Cup also serves as the qualifying round for our region.”

Meanwhile, in the second match of the day, Sri Lanka thrashed Afghanistan 14-0 to book their place in the final. They also won the opening match against Nepal on Saturday.

Sri Lanka’s Akalanka Ranasinhe scored four runs while Hapuarachchi, Karunarathna, Abeysooriya made two runs each to emerge as the leading players for their side.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play the final on Monday.