Dubai, UAE – [September 23, 2025] – Baseball United, the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, announced today the signing of four Pakistani players to the roster of the Karachi Monarchs, Pakistan’s first professional baseball franchise. Among the players are three homegrown talents, all developed within Pakistan’s National Team program through Pakistan Federation Baseball, and scouted through Baseball United’s Pakistan Development Program.

Pakistan - one of the largest cricket-playing nations in the world - is also the highest-ranked baseball-playing nation in South and West Asia, reaching #32 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) rankings this year, ahead of countries like Argentina, Belgium, Greece, and Ukraine. Pakistan has also been the region’s most successful nation in international tournaments, with several West Asia Cup championships, Asian Championship appearances, and World Baseball Classic Qualifier entries. Pakistan also won Baseball United’s Arab Classic tournament last year.

“Today is an important milestone in the history of Pakistani sports,” said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Baseball United. “Pakistan has always been known for its love of cricket, but baseball has been quietly growing across the country over the last 40 years. Thanks to the leadership of Syed Fakhar Ali Shah and Pakistan Federation Baseball, they have been developing talented pitchers, batters, and fielders through academies across the country. Now, the best of the best of these players will take the field with top professional players from the United States, Japan, and other elite baseball countries. With Pakistani sports fans hungry for their nation to succeed on the international stage, these four players will help lead the charge for the Karachi Monarchs.”

Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) is the national governing body for baseball in Pakistan, founded in 1992 by Syed Khawar Shah to promote the sport. PFB is affiliated with both the WBSC and the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA). The federation focuses on developing baseball through player development programs, national team training, and partnerships with organizations like Baseball United. It has been led by Khawar Shah’s son, Syed Fakhar Ali Shah, for the last several years.

The four Pakistani players joining the Karachi Monarchs are:

• Muhammad Zohaib, 33, pitcher from Attock, Pakistan. Zohaib is a veteran pitcher who has consistently performed at a high level for Pakistan’s national team, making his international debut at the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Brooklyn, USA, where he pitched against Great Britain. Since then, he has become a cornerstone of the national team, competing in the 2017 West Asia Cup in Islamabad, the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Panama, the 2023 Asian Championship in Chinese Taipei, the 2024 Baseball United Arab Classic in Dubai, and the 2025 West Asia Cup in Iran. He also represented Pakistan at the 31st Asian Men’s Championship in Pingtan, China. Zohaib has a strong command of the strike zone and the ability to mix pitches effectively, making him one of the top pitchers in the country. His development within the national program highlights the success of Pakistan Federation Baseball’s grassroots pipeline.
• Musharaf Khan, 20, pitcher from Khyber, Pakistan. Khan is one of Pakistan’s top young pitchers, developed at Khawar Shah Baseball Academy in the northern city of Peshawar. He has represented the Pakistan National Team in multiple international tournaments, showcasing a fastball that has consistently impressed scouts. He spent the past year with Saga Asia Dreams, an independent professional baseball team in Japan's Kyushu Asia League (KAL). Known for his discipline and work ethic, Musharaf is one of the standout arms within Baseball United’s Pakistan Development Program.
• Muhammad Hussain, 27, third baseman from Chiniot (Punjab), Pakistan. Hussain is a versatile infielder with strong defensive skills and a consistent bat. He has represented Pakistan at the international level for several years, including at the 2018 Asian Games, the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualifiers, the 2023 West Asia Baseball Cup, and the 2023 Asian Baseball Championship. Hussain was named the MVP of the Baseball United Arab Classic last November. He is currently representing Pakistan at the Asian Championship in China which began this week. His combination of consistency at the plate and agility in the field makes him a key addition to the Monarchs’ infield.
• Pierce Khan, 28, second baseman from Richmond (Houston), Texas. Khan is a Pakistani-American player with deep family roots in Pakistan. Born and raised in Texas, Khan played Division I baseball at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, and most recently competed in the Pecos League. He’s excelled as a contact hitter with speed on the bases and range in the field. His addition to the Monarchs represents the global reach of Pakistani talent, and he will bring valuable international experience to the roster.

The Karachi Monarchs - the first professional baseball franchise in the history of Pakistan - will kick off Baseball United’s first full season with a historic matchup against the Mumbai Cobras on November 14th, 15th, and 16th at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai. The Monarchs will also face franchises from Dubai and Abu Dhabi during their inaugural season.

“Pakistan has produced some of the most passionate and loyal sports fans in the world,” said Eddie Diaz, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations at Baseball United. “They have a lot of athletes with good tools, who know how to hit and run and throw. The signing of these four players – especially our three homegrown stars – is going to inspire the next generation of Pakistani athletes to dream big about baseball.”

The announcement of Pakistani professional players follows Baseball United’s recent signings of players from India and the Philippines, reflecting the league’s mission to elevate local talent from across South Asia and the Middle East onto a global stage.

All Baseball United games will be broadcast globally - including in both India and Pakistan - with partners announced in the coming weeks. The full Karachi Monarchs roster will be revealed later this week.

For more information on Baseball United, visit baseballunited.com.

About Baseball United
Baseball United is the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Baseball United’s inaugural Showcase event in Dubai was broadcast in 127 countries, reaching 200 million households. Our mission is to inspire one billion new fans to fall in love with baseball. Our ownership group includes award-winning entrepreneur, Kash Shaikh, and 20 baseball legends, including Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Adrián Beltré, Albert Pujols, Elvis Andrus, Robinson Chirinos, Felix Hernandez, Ryan Howard, and Ronald Acuña Jr. In addition to our professional league, the Baseball United ecosystem spans youth development, federation partnerships, media and content production, merchandise, and non-profit outreach. With over 30 nationalities represented on our team rosters and a new suite of innovative game changes, Baseball United is working to create a new future for baseball in one of the fastest growing and most culturally diverse regions in the world.

Media Contacts:
Salome Fernandes, Senior Vice President, Media, Baseball United
salome@baseballunited.com