KARACHI: Pakistan’s national baseball team will depart for New York on Sunday from Lahore to take part in World Baseball Classic’s qualification round scheduled from September 22 to 25. The qualification round will take place at the MCU Park in Brooklyn and will decide the 16th and final entry in the World Baseball Classic event in Los Angeles next year. The 26-member team contingent includes four officials, with Ihsanullah leading the side to play their first match against Brazil on September 22. Pakistan will subsequently face Britain on September 23, and if the national team wins both matches, they will play against Israel on September 25. “Our boys have trained very hard during the camp and they are in good shape,” said President of Pakistan Federation Baseball Syed Khawar Shah. “It will be a great opportunity for us to earn a name for our country in baseball.” The Pakistan Federation Baseball also hired American coach John Goulding for one month to train players for this high ranked event. Other countries which have already qualified for the main even next year are Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela.