The second match of the day is scheduled to start at 2.00 p.m. is between Pakistan and Iran.Sri Lanka, India and Nepal are in group A while Pakistan, Iran and Bangladesh have been drawn in group B. The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the semifinals to be held on Thursday with the final on Saturday.

Sri Lanka skipper Sameera Ratnayake said it was a great honour and privilege to be leading the side on this historic occasion at the captains’ press conference held at Jetwing hotel, Panadura on Sunday evening.“We are confident of repeating the success we achieved two years in this competition,” said Ratnayake. Sri Lanka are the defending champions but will face stiff competition from Pakistan who are 24th in the world baseball rankings.

“This team is better than the side we had in 2017. There are 12 new young faces and it is a well balanced side,” said Akalanka Ranasinghe, manager of the Sri Lanka team, who led the side to victory in the previous edition of the West Asia Baseball Cup.