SLAMABAD: The Pakistan basketball team arrived in the Maldives on Wednesday to participate in the Five-Nation International Basketball Championship, which is scheduled to take place on June 15.
Alongside the host country Maldives, Pakistan will compete against Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal for the championship title. The tournament follows a single league round format, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.
Prior to their departure for the Maldives, the Pakistan team had a meeting with Shoaib Khoso, the Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). During the meeting, Brig. (R) Muhammad Iftikhar Mansoor, the President of the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF), briefed Khoso on the national team’s preparations for the tournament.
Khoso expressed confidence in the talented Pakistani basketball team, expecting them to deliver a stellar performance in the five-nation championship. He assured the PBBF officials that the Pakistan Sports Board would extend maximum support to active sports federations. Khoso emphasized that this tournament presented a wonderful opportunity for young players to represent their country and showcase their potential in the game. He also highlighted the efforts of the Pakistan Sports Board in promoting sports nationwide.
Furthermore, Khoso assured the PBBF officials that the PSB would provide substantial support for future training camps and upcoming national and international events.
Iftikhar Mansoor and Ouj E Zahoor, the PBBF Associate Secretary, expressed their gratitude to the Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari, and the Director General of the PSB for their support and assistance.
The championship holds significant importance for the Pakistan team, as it offers them the opportunity to gain international exposure after a seven-year hiatus.
Pakistan’s first match will be against Nepal on June 15, followed by a match against the Maldives on June 16. The team will face Bhutan in their third match on June 17 and conclude the group stage with a game against Bangladesh on June 18. The semifinals will take place on June 20, followed by the final on June 22.
The Pakistan squad consists of Muhammad Shahbaz Ali (captain), Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Umair Jan, Zain ul Hassan Khan, Muhammad Shahid, Imad Ahmed, Zia Ur Rehman, Saqib Ullah Mahsood, Mahtab Akram, and Sheraz Aslam.
The team officials include Malik Muhammad Riaz (head coach), Umer Mehmood (coach), and Ahmed Ali Tipu (manager).