Sri Lanka Baseball set to face Nepal in opener

Sri Lanka Baseball squad with the officials before their departure to Pakistan 

The Sri Lanka National Baseball team is set to face Nepal in their tournament opener of the West Asia Baseball Cup 2023 on the 27 January (today) in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The formidable Sri Lanka outfit is set to begin their title defence of West Asia Baseball Cup championship against Nepal today, where they go out briming with confidence as defending champions by winning last tournament held few years back in Colombo edging out Pakistan in the final.

The Sri Lanka team commenced training for the tournament in 2022 as the tournament was scheduled to be held the same year. However, the tournament got postponed on various occasions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competent Sri Lanka team was picked following the National Baseball tournament held last September. Pakistan is the favourite team in the fray where they picked the players representing clubs from around the world. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka will need to put up an extra ordinary performance if they are to surprise the hosts.

The Ministry of Sports have been supporting the Baseball Association throughout providing accommodation and meals for the players during the camps while ensuring the players were well looked after. Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe, State Minister Rohana Dissanayake, and the Ministry officials have played a pivotal role in providing necessary funding for the air fare of the players to travel to Pakistan.

Sri Lanka will also take on India and Palestine on the 28 and 29 January respectively.