The duo may have lost but Babar Masih earned himself several admirers along the way, none more so than partner Shahram Changezi. PHOTO COURTESY: IBSF
KARACHI:
Malaysia defeated the Pakistan (2) team of Shahram Changezi and Babar Masih 4-1 in the semi-final to claim their place in Saturday’s IBSF World Team Championship final.
Pakistan (2) took an early lead as Babar won his first singles’ frame against Keen Hoo Moh but Shahram could not follow up his partner’s win and lost to Lim which tied the scores at 1-1 after two frames.
The doubles frame was a closer affair but it went in the favour of the Malaysians as well. The visitors went from strength to strength and followed it up with two more single’s frames to win 4-1 with a scoreline of 36-01, 65-09, 68-54, 64-33 and 73-15.
Shahram, the senior player in the team, said that he failed to live up to expectations. “To be honest, Babar played better than me,” he told The Express Tribune. “I couldn’t perform according to expectations. However, I wouldn’t take any credit away from our opponents, who were superb and didn’t provide us with many chances. All credit to them.”
The 31-year-old was to partner Hamza Akbar but had to pair up with Babar after Akbar left to play in the Professional Circuit. The experienced man was left impressed with his new partner though. “Babar will become a very fine player for Pakistan and I want to request NBP to provide him with a job,” he said.
Shahram also had words of praise for the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association, stating that he has not seen a better arranged event in his career.
Earlier in the last-eight, Shahram and Babar had beaten Hong Kong (3) 4-2 while Malaysia thumped Iran (1) 4-0 with an 83-53, 63-40, 61-17 and 78-13 scoreline.
Pakistan (3), consisting of Asjad Iqbal and Shahid Aftab, won a seven-frame thriller against India, winning 4-3, while Hong Kong (1) thrashed Pakistan (9) 4-1.
Pakistan, Afghanistan to meet in Masters final
The IBSF Masters event will see neighbours Pakistan take on Afghanistan in the final.
The Pakistan Masters duo —former IBSF World Champion Mohammad Yousuf and Naveed Perwani — won 4-3 against England’s Simon Dent and Nigel Howe by a scoreline of 115-01, 43-75, 74-54, 46-60, 00-72, 79-38 and 69-53.
Afghanistan’s Saleh Mohammad, who used to represent Pakistan earlier in his career, teamed up with Zemarai Hassan to knock out India’s Alok Kumar and Rafath Habib 4-3 as well by scores of 8-61, 105-6, 31-67, 93-19, 21-73, 71-05 and 65-23.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2015.
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