Defending champions Cuba announce roster for WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024

The Cuban Baseball Federation announced its roster for the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024, which will take place in Hong Kong, China from 7 to 12 October.

The roster, which is based on the Baseball5 Pan American Games first-place team, includes five defending World Champions - the inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup MVP Briandy Molina, Orlando Amador, Cristian Basabe, Chakira Aspiazú, and Lietis Arcia.

Tournament MVP Haila Gonzalez and Yoel Blanco also helped Cuba win the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2023.

Head coach Pablo Terry and his assistant Liorvis Savon led Cuba to the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2022 title.

Eros Bernal, the technical chief of Baseball5 in Cuba, will be the delegation leader.

The WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024 includes 12 participants, split into two groups.

World No. 2 Cuba will compete in Group A and face No. 1 Chinese Taipei; No. 13 Venezuela; No. 17 Hong Kong, China; No. 6 South Africa; and No. 10 Lithuania

Group B includes No. 5 Japan, No. 4 France, No. 3 Tunisia, No. 7 Mexico, No. 9 China, and No. 39 Australia.

The 30-game Opening Round will be wrapped up on 9 October, but not before defending champions Cuba and bronze medallists Chinese Taipei face off in the penultimate game of the group stage.

The top three finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round, while the remaining six teams will enter the Placement Round.

The Super Round, taking place on 10 and 11 October, will determine the top two teams competing for the Baseball5 World Championship title on 12 October at 15:00 (local time). Before the final, the third and fourth-placed teams will compete for the bronze medal and the final podium spot.