Lahore: The Pakistan U-18 baseball team’s participation in the upcoming Asian U-18 Baseball Championship in Taiwan is pending, as the team awaits the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the government. The team, which was scheduled to depart last night, has all preparations in place, including valid visas and arranged air tickets, but the approval from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has not been forthcoming.
According to Pakistan Federation Baseball, the delay in issuing the NOC stems from a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), which was forwarded to the PSB for further action from MOFA and the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry. Syed Fakhar Ali Shah, Secretary of the Pakistan Federation Baseball, expressed concerns in a conversation with Media Manager Parvez Ahmed Sheikh, stating that the federation has responded to the PSB and filed a complaint regarding the MOFA letter. Shah highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that even if the NOC is granted immediately, the team faces additional challenges as their current tickets are non-refundable, necessitating the purchase of new tickets at short notice.
The championship is critical as it also serves as a qualifier for the World Cup. The Pakistan Baseball Federation has committed to bearing any financial losses to ensure the team’s participation, which is deemed vital for the future prospects of the players and the sport in Pakistan. Many Pakistani players, who reside abroad for educational scholarships and baseball training, have already arrived in Taiwan in anticipation of competing.
Syed Fakhar Ali Shah also released a video message stressing the importance of adhering to government regulations and expressing hope for a swift resolution. He warned that non-participation could lead to sanctions and fines from the world baseball body, underscoring the high stakes involved in receiving the government’s approval.