02/02/2023 1 Minute Read

Pakistan defeat Palestine to claim West Asia Baseball Cup title

It's the fourth title for Pakistan. Both finalists qualified for the Asian Baseball Championship, which is a qualification event for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the bronze-medal game.

Pakistan defeated Palestine in the final, 11-3, and claimed the West Asia Baseball Cup 2023 title. Pitchers Muhammad Amjad Hussain and Muhammad Zoahib dominated Palestine. Both National Teams qualified for the Asian Baseball Championship, scheduled for later in the year in Taiwan, which is a qualifier for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup.

Pakistan hosted the sixth West Asia Baseball Cup in Islamabad. Seven National Teams participated, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Group A; Palestine, the defending champions Sri Lanka, India and Nepal in Group B.

Pakistan eliminated Sri Lanka, 16-1, in the first semifinal. Palestine beat Bangladesh, 14-3.

Sri Lanka were too good for Bangladesh, 3-1, in the bronze-medal game.

The Asian Baseball Cup launched in 1995 in Manila, Philippines, as a qualifier for the Asian Baseball Championship. In 2012 it was split into West Asia and East Asia Cup.

Pakistan (2012, 2013, 2015 and 2023) and Sri Lanka (2017 and 2019) are the only winners of the West Asia Baseball Cup and have competed in the final in four of five previous editions. Iran lost the final against Pakistan in 2015. Iran also earned three bronze medals in 2012, 2015, and 2017. The other third-place finishers are Afghanistan (2013) and India (2015 and 2019)

Sri Lanka hosted in Colombo the 2019 edition. The tournament was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions.