ISLAMABAD: Pakistan beat hosts United Arab Emirates 12-1 to clinch the United Arab Classic Baseball championship this week, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Monday, with the South Asian team taking home the trophy by remaining undefeated throughout the tournament.
Baseball United Arab Classic, organized by Baseball United--a professional baseball organization in the Middle East and South Asia--took place from Nov. 7-10 in the UAE. The tournament featured Pakistan, UAE, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Nepal.
Pakistan qualified for the final on Sunday after thrashing Afghanistan 17-3 on Saturday. Before that, the South Asian team had beaten India 12-0 and UAE 10-3. Pakistan had also defeated Bangladesh 10-0 on Nov. 7.
“Pakistan have won the United Arab Classic Baseball championship held in the United Arab Emirates,” Radio Pakistan said. “Pakistan beat UAE team in the final by 12-1.”
Pakistan’s official baseball body, Pakistan Federation Baseball, is internationally recognized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Pakistan Federation Baseball was founded by Syed Khawar Shah in 1992 and has grown into the preeminent baseball federation within South Asia over the last three decades.
Prior to this, Pakistan baseball won 10 championships in tournaments across Asia over the last 15 years, including the West Asia Cup in Islamabad in January 2023.
Pakistan beat UAE to clinch United Arab Classic Baseball championship
https://arab.news/r83fh
Pakistan beat UAE to clinch United Arab Classic Baseball championship
- Tournament featured Palestine, UAE, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Nepal
- Pakistan remained unbeaten throughout tournament, thrashing Afghanistan 17-3, India 12-0 and Bangladesh 10-0
Pakistan offers seaport for global cargo transshipment amid Gulf conflict escalation
- Karachi Port Trust says its services can ensure ‘continuity and stability’ of maritime trade
- The region is currently witnessing significant disruptions to global trade and oil shipments
KARACHI: Pakistan has offered its Karachi seaport for uninterrupted global cargo transshipments as escalating Middle East tensions threaten maritime trade, the country’s largest port operator said on Friday.
Iran has been rocked by joint US and Israeli strikes since Feb. 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US, Israeli and allied targets across the Gulf, plunging the region into conflict and uncertainty.
The escalation disrupted air travel, heightened military activity, and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route carrying roughly 20 percent of global oil shipments.
The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said in a statement it was ready to support international shipping lines by offering transshipment services to regional ports, helping ensure the “continuity and stability” of global maritime trade.
“Karachi Port Trust remains fully prepared to support the international maritime community and to provide reliable, efficient, and secure port services in the interest of sustaining regional trade connectivity,” KPT Chairman Shahid Ahmed said, according to a statement circulated by the port authority.
It added the facility could help stabilize maritime trade by offering transshipment services for cargo destined for ports across the region.
The statement said as a demonstration of its capability, international vessels MV TS TACOMA and MV TS SYDNEY arrived in Karachi and discharged large number of containers as transshipment cargo.
“The containers will subsequently be transshipped from Karachi to Jebel Ali in the Middle East,” it continued.
Pakistan Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Thursday highlighted the importance of the Gwadar port city’s transshipment role as major shipping routes face disruption from the ongoing conflict.
The developments come as the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway between Iran and Oman and one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, has been blocked by Iran which has threatened to attack ships that attempt to transit through it.
US President Donald Trump has assured shipping companies of naval escorts and insurance support to protect vessels.
The escalating tensions have contributed to a sharp rise in energy prices and significant disruptions to tanker traffic through the strategic waterway.
Pakistan has long viewed its seaports as strategic assets that could boost trade with Central Asia and the Gulf region, while helping the country earn valuable foreign exchange.
