Pakistan begin campaign with a bang

Both teams win all matches on day one

KARACHI: Pakistan began the ACBS 6 Red Snooker Team Championship on a high, winning their opening four matches against Saudi Arabia and hosts Kyrgyzstan and Iraq in Bishkek on Monday.

Pakistan are fielding two teams, with Pakistan(1) boasting Asian 6 Red Individual Snooker Championship champion Sajjad and Asjad Iqbal, while Pakistan(2) have Babar Masih and Muhammad Bilal.

On day one of the team event, Sajjad and his student Asjad defeated Saudi Arabia 3-0 with ease — 116-40 with a break of 108, 86-32 with a break of 58, 92-0 with a break of 87.

They were just as impressive in their second game, defeating hosts Kyrgyzstan(2) 3-0 without conceding a single frame — 82-5, 82-1, 119-9 with a break of 105.

Similarly, Masih and Bilal defeated Iraq 3-0 in their opening match — 116-40 with a break of 108, 86-32 with a break of 58 and sealing the win 82-5 with a break of 66.

They then went on to defeat Kyrgyzstan(1) 3-1, dropping the second frame in the match — 75-27, 34-69, 97-31 with a break of 55, 92-5.

“It is a huge honour for me to win the individual championship, I would want to win the team event as well,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “We are very confident and we have proven that we are in much better form than the players from other countries.”

Pakistan(1) are placed in group C with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kyrgyzstan(2), while Pakistan(2) are in group D with Kyrgyzstan(1), Iraq and Thailand.

Meanwhile, Masih is quite confident of Pakistan winning the team championship as well.

“I played well in the individual competition — both me and Bilal — I think we make a great team,” said Masih. “I would want to see both Pakistan teams in the final; that will be something.”