MALE: The Pakistan basketball team showcased a dominant performance on Sunday as they secured a convincing 84-66 victory against Bangladesh in their final group match of the ongoing five-nation tournament in Maldives. With this win, Pakistan has also secured a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Right from the start, Pakistan exhibited their superiority over Bangladesh, outscoring them 20-15 in the first quarter. Although Bangladesh showed some resistance in the second quarter, finishing with a score of 37-34 in their favor, Pakistan regained control in the third quarter. They limited Bangladesh to just seven points while scoring 22 points themselves, extending their lead to 56-44.
Pakistan maintained their dominance in the final quarter, ultimately sealing the victory with a scoreline of 84-66 and securing their place in the semi-finals. Zain ul Hasan Khan and Muhammad Umair Jan were the standout performers for Pakistan, both scoring 19 points. Abdul Wahab contributed 16 points, while Ziaur Rahman added 11 points to the team’s tally. Additionally, Shehbaz Ali, Umeer, and Zia each scored three 3-pointers for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s 3rd Consecutive Victory in Tournament
This win against Bangladesh marks Pakistan’s third consecutive victory in the tournament, following their earlier triumphs against Bhutan and Maldives. The Pakistani team had suffered a narrow defeat in their first game against Nepal with a score of 66-62. However, they bounced back strongly, securing victories against Maldives and Bhutan with scores of 65-63 and 76-53, respectively.
The semi-final of the tournament is scheduled to take place on June 20, while the final is set for June 22. It is worth noting that Pakistan’s participation in this international event marks their return after a gap of seven years.
Pakistan’s Squad for the Tournament: Mohammad Shahbaz Ali, Abdul Wahab, Mohammad Umair Jan, Zain-ul-Hassan Khan, Mohammad Shahid, Imad Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rehman, Saqibullah Mehsood, Mehtab Akram, Shiraz Aslam
Team Officials: Malik Mohammad Riaz (Head Coach), Umar Mahmood (Coach), Ahmad Ali Tipu (Manager)
