MULTAN (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 6 April, 2026) Baseball in Punjab is expected to regain its lost position in the national and international rankings, said Haider Lehri, founder member of Punjab Baseball Federation. Pakistan Baseball Federation and President of Balochistan Baseball Federation.
During his special visit to Multan, Haider Lehri visited the residence of Punjab Baseball Association General Secretary Jamil Kamran, where he congratulated him on his new responsibilities. He presented a bouquet of flowers and a traditional hat, expressing his best wishes for the future development of this sport.
Speaking on the occasion, Lehri recalled the early development of baseball in Pakistan during the 1990s, when the sport was introduced with limited resources and a small group of dedicated individuals, including Mohsin from Pakistan. KarachiHe continued from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and he himself represents Balochistan. He said that thanks to the efforts of individuals like Khawar Shah and Jamil Kamran, Pakistani baseball has made significant progress at the international level, improving its world ranking from around 150 to around 26th or 27th place.
However, he expressed concern that in later years, when responsibilities were transferred to the new leadership, expectations were not fully met and the sport was allegedly run by personal interests rather than collective development, leading to a decline in performance and structure.
He stressed that Punjab remains the leading province for baseball talent, with a strong grassroots presence, especially in Multan, which has been instrumental in developing players from the local level to the national federation.
Referring to the international tour of Japan, Lehri pointed out that the majority of players in the junior team at that time were from Multan, and many of them are now part of the senior Pakistani national team and continue to actively represent the country.
He said that players from Balochistan, Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also part of the team. Multan He remained the backbone of the team.
He further stated that despite challenges and interruptions in the past, efforts have been made to restore order. Jamil Kamran, through consultation and hands-on leadership, reorganized the structure and worked to get baseball back on track. Lehri emphasized that the first state-level training session was successfully conducted in Multan under the supervision of Kamran, marking an important achievement for the sport.
He praised the organization of the course despite the limited resources and described it as the basis for future development. He added that Jamil Kamran’s responsibilities have now expanded significantly, and he is expected to effectively lead the entire governorate structure.
Lehri expressed optimism that Jamil Kamran and his team will restore Pakistani baseball to its former status. He also expressed confidence in the new leadership of the Pakistan Baseball Federation under the leadership of President Hamood Lakhvi and Secretary General Tahir Mehmood Raja, stating that Pakistan will regain its lost status at the international level once again.
Concluding his remarks, he said, “You will see Pakistan in the future,” expressing his hope that both Balochistan and Pakistani baseball will regain their true identity in the coming years.