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The Pakistan League had the same two teams advance to the playoffs as the prior year, although the positions were switched. Gujranwala, second place last year, took first by a large margin at 103-59. Defending league champ Peshawar took second at 92-70. The Predators were five games ahead of Faisalabad and seven ahead of Hyderabad.

The Grasshoppers had both the MVP and Pitcher of the Year for the Pakistan League. MVP was catcher Razak Mohiyoudeen. Nicknamed “Jet,” the 25-year old fourth-year righty posted a league-best 13.0 WAR, .376 average, .457 OBP, and 231 wRC+ with 32 home runs, 111 RBI, and a Gold Glove. Mohiyoudeen set an ABF record for batting WAR and set a still-standing world record for most WAR in a season by a catcher. Dhofar Ghaffar won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards as the second-year ace led in wins (20-9), strikeouts (320), and K/BB (13.3). Ghaffar added a 2.07 ERA over 251.2 innings and 10.3 WAR. Ghaffar also made history with ABF’s third perfect game, striking out 13 against Lahore on July 14. He beat out teammate Faysal Jabalandi for the top award, despite Jabalandi setting a number of rate stat records in his 171.2 innings. He set still-standing ABF single season records for H/9 (3.51), WHIP (0.62), opponent average (.116), OBP (.181), slugging (.202), and OPS (.383).



The West Asia Association had two teams advance to the playoffs for the first time in their six year histories. Izmir won the Turkish League at 99-63 with Adana the closest competitor seven back. Two-time defending ABF champ Istanbul plummeted hard off a cliff, going from 90 wins to only 66. The Ironmen wouldn’t be back in the postseason again until 2004. In the Persian League, Mashhad prevailed at 98-64. Isfahan was five back and defending winner Tehran was third at eight games back.

Tabriz was four games below .500, but they had the WAA MVP and Rookie of the Year in LF Vahid Hadadi. In a remarkable debut season, the Tiger Sharks’ second overall pick became the Asian Baseball Federation’s new home run king with 67, becoming the first to hit 60+. Hadadi also led in runs (120, RBI (135), total bases (430), slugging (.813), OPS (1.223), wRC+ (263), and WAR (12.4).

Other notes: Faisalabad 1B Hazan Sheikh set a single-season record with 151 RBI, becoming the first to cross 150. The record would be topped three times more in the 1990s. Tehran’s Ghaem Shirazi was the Pitcher of the Year as the fourth-year righty led in ERA (1.87), WHIP (0.80), K/BB (11.7), FIP- (48), and WAR (9.7). He added an 18-7 record and 303 strikeouts over 236.1 innings.

The Pakistan League Championship Series was a rematch and once again went all seven games. Although they were the road underdog this time, Peshawar upset Gujranwala to claim back-to-back titles. The West Asia Association Championship saw Mashhad defeated Izmir 4-2



In the sixth Asian Baseball Federation Championship, Mashhad topped Peshawar 4-2, bringing the title to Iran for the first time and making the Predators runner-up again. CF Sahar Ahmadi was the playoff hero, winning finals MVP and Association Finals MVP. In 12 starts, the 23-year old Afghani had 15 hits, 10 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 13 RBI, and 6 stolen bases.



Other notes: Gujranwala CF Mahmood Omar had an 1.670 OPS in seven playoff games, a record that still stands as of 2037. 2B Qavi Naserwanji won his sixth Gold Glove, the only player to win each of ABF’s first six seasons.