DHAKA (FIBA Asia Cup 2021 SABA Pre-Qualifier) - The FIBA Asia Cup 2021 SABA Pre-Qualifier will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 26 to 29 June.

Hosts Bangladesh - which is a one time champion and three time silver medalist at the SABA Championship - will start off as favourites, with Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives snapping at its heels.

Here are 10 reasons why we should all tune into the action.

1) India's got company: Finally! SABA nations like host Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan will be heaving huge signs of relief. The Pre-Qualifier finally gives a realistic chance to two of these countries to climb out of India's shadow. For far too long, India has been closing the door to Asian level competition for its SABA neighbours. But not any more! With FIBA unveiling its new competition system, this is a huge opportunity for two new teams from SABA sub-zone to progress to the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Pre-Qualifier later this September. 

2) Live Streaming: Ah! The simple pleasures of life. FIBA is proud to usher in the new era of live streaming in the South Asian basketball circuit starting with this Pre-Qualifier. All games will be streamed on FIBA's social media channels, with participating federations too having the opportunity to stream the game on their Facebook channels. More details coming soon!

3) Double headers! Yes you read that right. Two back to back games every afternoon starting at 2:30 pm local time, for five days straight. Stock up on your whistles, drums, flags and face paint to cheer on for your team. 

4) Competitive games: Earlier, with India in the mix at the SABA Championship, the tournament frequently featured blowout games. No more! With 10 games spread across five days in a round robin format, expect each game to go right down to the wire. Who you got?

5) The Iconic Venue: The Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium, Dhaka is an iconic hoops venue and home to the Bangladesh Basketball Federation. One of the few indoor hardwood facilities in the country, Dhanmondi has an impressive history of hosting countless premier international and national championships, across pro, school and college levels.

6) Start of Regional rivalries: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal vying for top honours; Bhutan and Maldives seeking to stave off the ignominy of finishing at the bottom. With five regional neighbours going at it, this Pre-Qualifier has all the markings of mouth watering rivalries waiting to explode.

7) Speed and sizzle of the Himalayan nations: Expect a lot of razzle dazzle when either Nepal or Bhutan take to the floor. Himalayan nations have always been speedy. Whether crossovers, nutmegs, spin moves, long range jumpers or wrap around passes, expect a ton of mesmerizing highlights from these these two high altitude countries. 

8) Be part of history: This is the first ever SABA Pre-Qualifier for the FIBA Asia Cup. It's a transformative moment for the SABA region. With two new qualifying spots opening for SABA teams, the Pre-Qualifier heralds the chance of increased competition and motivates participating national federations to beef up the local competition and infrastructure. Every Asia sub-zone is gearing up for tantalizing future growth, so this is a chance for you to be there from the very beginning, and to have the privilege to say "I was there when it all started"!

9) Chance to visit Dhaka! For fans of basketball who also love travel, the SABA Pre-Qualifier is the perfect occasion to not just witness some super competitive action, but also take a tour of the historic and culturally rich mega city of Dhaka. The 4^th most densely populated city in the world and once known as the “Venice of the East”, the city is home to many iconic Mughal-era monuments, its own unique food tradition, known as “Dhakaiya food” and ubiquitous colourful cycle rickshaws to get around the city. The capital city of Bangladesh is extremely well connected by air, road, rail and waterways.

10) Birth of basketball rivalry in SABA region: Finally here's the chance for South Asian fans to root for their team in a sport not named cricket. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh fight it out on the cricket fields often, but how do the two sides match up on a basketball court? Can South Asia turn from a cricket hotbed to a baller-zone? The Pre-Qualifier can well turn out to be the epicentre of regional rivalries in an exciting new sport. 

Down the road…. You can be rest assured that the two other SABA nations that are staying away this time- Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be keenly watching the Pre-Qualifier and sizing up their future opponents. With their natural size and strength, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the realistic long term regional rivals of India, and are sure to participate in coming editions of the Pre-Qualifier. 

FIBA