Punjab Sports Minister vows to revitalize baseball; association proposes Inter-Division Floodlit Championship
Punjab Sports Minister vows to revitalize baseball;
association proposes Inter-Division Floodlit Championship
By Nawaz Gohar ; A high-level delegation from the Punjab Baseball Association (PBA) met with the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Muhammad Faisal Ayub Khokhar, at his office to discuss a comprehensive roadmap for the sport’s development.
The delegation included PBA President Dr. Muhammad Hamood Lakhvi, General Secretary Muhammad Jamil Kamran, and Zafar Sherwani. Notable sports veteran Mian Munir—a senior PML-N leader, former President of the Multan Region Cricket Association, and former Manager of the Pakistan National Cricket Team—was also present to lend his expertise to the discussions.
Aligning with the Chief Minister’s vision to designate 2026 as the “Year of Sports,” the PBA presented several practical proposals aimed at nurturing young talent. A key highlight was the recommendation to host the Punjab Inter-Division Floodlit Baseball Championship 2026 in Multan.
The delegation argued that while Punjab possesses immense natural talent in baseball, the lack of regular inter-division competitions has historically hindered the progress of emerging athletes.
To institutionalize the sport, the Association recommended a series of strategic initiatives across major cities including Lahore, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, and Sargodha. These proposals include:
Facility Development: Establishing dedicated baseball grounds and fields in Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
Elite Training: Launching a Baseball Coaching Academy under the Punjab Sports Board.
Resource Utilization: Utilizing school premises and sports halls for training to maximize accessibility for students.
Coach Education: Implementing specialized training programs to produce a new generation of certified coaches.
During the meeting, General Secretary Muhammad Jamil Kamran presented his published work on Baseball Rules and Regulations to Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar.
The Minister expressed his gratitude and commended the effort, noting that such technical literature is vital for the professional growth of the sport in Pakistan.
Responding to the proposals, Sports Minister Muhammad Faisal Ayub Khokhar assured the delegation of the provincial government’s full support.
He reiterated that under the current administration’s sports policy, every effort will be made to provide baseball with the necessary resources and platform to thrive alongside other mainstream sports.
