Lahore, 16 Oct 2023: Syed Fakhar Ali Shah, the President of the Pakistan Federation Baseball and Vice President of the Baseball Federation of Asia, has voiced his approval of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recent decision to introduce baseball to the roster of sports for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The decision comes at a pivotal time for Pakistan’s baseball team, which did not participate in the recent Asian Games in Huangzhou, China. This absence resulted in the team’s drop to a position below their previous 5th rank in Asia, with the Philippines advancing with 129 points. In order to reclaim their standing, the Pakistan team must secure victories in 55 international matches. To put this into context, a single victory in a match fetches them 2 points. However, competing in prominent championships like the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Championship, West Asia Cup, and South Asian Games can earn the team a significant number of points.

Highlighting the hurdles that the sport faces in the nation, Syed Fakhar Ali Shah elaborated on the financial constraints that impede Pakistan Baseball’s participation in international tournaments. He stressed the criticality of the team’s performance and their standings to garner sustained backing. With an eye on future competitions and potential medals, Shah made an earnest appeal to both governmental bodies and private enterprises to rally behind the sport, ensuring its success on international platforms. The press release was sourced from the Pakistan Federation Baseball.