Professional snooker circuit: Hamza wants PSB to sweeten the pot

Cueist, with three losses so far, seeks funding for Poland, Austria, Wales events

KARACHI: Pakistan cueist Hamza Akbar has decried financial issues since before his departure to the UK to play in the professional snooker circuit two months back, but the Pakistan Sport Board (PSB) is yet to release his full prize money of Rs2 million as per the National Sports Policy.

The 21-year-old has played and lost three matches so far, while his next three assignments in Poland, Austria and Wales require funding.

Just before his departure, he was given one-fifth of his prize money by the PSB and has been waiting in vain for the rest once he started playing in the professional circuit — the first Pakistani to do so.

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“I’ve just been playing in the UK so far, so it wasn’t a problem for me, but my next assignments are away and there is a serious shortage of funds for me,” Hamza told The Express Tribune.

“I’ve tried to contact some of the wealthiest people who have backed sportsmen but they too haven’t responded; all my hopes are pinned on the PSB. I’m ready to invest even my prize money because it can’t get bigger than playing in the professional circuit. However, I haven’t even received that amount as yet.”

Hamza added that financial problems are proving to be a distraction as he competes against the best in the world.

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Before the three losses, the Faisalabad-based cueist had failed to play the first two professional circuit matches due to complications in his visa process.

His first loss came against UK’s Mark Joyce, who won 6-2 in the International Championship qualifier while the second defeat was to UK’s Mathew Salt, who defeated him 4-2 in round one of the Euro Tour 4 event.

Hamza’s third loss against two-time world champion Mark Williams was still an improvement from the previous two as he won four frames before going down 6-4.

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“The game against Williams has given me quite a boost because he is a big player and I feel that I’m slowly settling in the professional circuit. However, to make my mark I need to play the whole circuit for two years and for that I need financial help. I would urge the authorities to look into my matter so I can proudly represent Pakistan,” he added.

When the PSB officials were contacted regarding the issue, the board said they were not releasing the funds as the prize money figures being demanded were incorrect.

“Rs2 million for his Asian Championship title is quite a lot, as far as the financial and executive committees of the PSB think,” said PSB Director of National Federations Azam Dar. “Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad were compensated with a respectable amount as well [for their respective medals] and when Hamza’s case was brought in front of the committee, we gave him Rs400,000.”

He added, “We only deal with federations so if the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association sends in a request, the financial and executive committees can look into it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st,  2015.

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