The Pakistan team celebrated their victory after winning the inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic international baseball tournament, which concluded on Sunday night following four days of intense competition.
Pakistan dominated the tournament, outscoring their opponents by a total of 57 runs, including a decisive 12-1 win against the UAE in the championship game. The event was held at the newly constructed Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens in Dubai.
Nine countries from the GCC and subcontinent participated in the tournament, playing a total of 21 games in front of thousands of spectators and a global online audience. The UAE, competing in their first international baseball tournament, made it to the finals, defeating Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals and a strong Palestine team in the semifinals.
The UAE finished the tournament with five wins and two losses, both of which were against Pakistan. Baseball United established the UAE National Baseball team within just 30 days, following official approval from the Emirates Cricket Board last month. The new Ballpark was constructed in a record 38 days to ensure all games were played on a professional-grade field.
Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Baseball United, congratulated Pakistan on their impressive win. He noted that this was the largest and most competitive baseball tournament in the region's history, highlighting Pakistan's potential to compete at the highest levels of international baseball.
The second-place finish for the UAE was also a significant achievement. Shaikh praised the UAE's performance, stating that the nation is now at the forefront of the global baseball conversation. He expressed pride in the team and gratitude to the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and the Emirates Cricket Board for their support.
Baseball United was founded in November 2022 by Shaikh, John Miedreich, and Major League Baseball Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Mariano Rivera. The league has attracted investments from 20 MLB legends, including Adrian Beltre, Albert Pujols, and Robinson Cano.
Shaikh emphasized the rapid progress made in establishing baseball in the region, stating that many now believe it will become the next great sport in this part of the world.
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