Kazuto Nonaka Joins Pakistan Baseball Ahead of Asian Championship

ISLAMABAD: In a landmark move for Pakistan baseball, the Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) has appointed seasoned Japanese coach Kazuto Nonaka to take charge of the national team’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Baseball Championship, set to be held in China from September 22 to 28.

Nonaka’s arrival is being seen as a significant step forward for Pakistan, which continues to seek international expertise as it pushes to become a major player in Asian baseball. According to a report by Sohail Imran, the Japanese coach has already been working closely with two of the team’s most promising talents, Faisal Hayat and Musharraf, who have been undertaking a specialised training program in Japan since May.

Pakistan Baseball’s Secretary Fakhar Ali Shah confirmed that talks with Coach Nonaka had been ongoing since last year, as the federation sought a trainer who could bring modern methodology and technical discipline to the national setup.

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“Coach Nonaka’s experience and training methods will give our players a much-needed competitive edge,” Shah said. “His involvement isn’t just about this one championship—it’s part of a longer-term strategy to elevate Pakistan baseball.”

Kazuto Nonaka is the second appointment in a major role within Pakistan baseball after Alex Khan, a current member of the national team, was named head coach of the Pakistan U-18 side for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Pakistan has been making a steady name for itself in the international baseball arena, and the upcoming Asian Baseball Championship provides another platform for the players to showcase their skills. China, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Palestine, the Philippines, and Japan will also take part in the upcoming competition.

With Coach Nonaka’s experience, Pakistan will head into the Asian Baseball Championship with fresh belief and a broader vision.