Pakistan cueists are busy with their hectic training for the Asian Snooker Championship to be held in India from April 23 despite uncertainty over their participation in the tournament.
Lack of funds and non-issuance of an NOC until now have put the cueists’ participation in the event in danger. The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA), which failed to send a team to Iran for the Asian Junior Championship after it was denied the needed grant from the Sports Ministry, hinted at a similar fate awaiting the senior cueists.
“It’s another withdrawal in the making,” PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh told The Express Tribune. “We requested the ministry for funds weeks ago but despite reminders we haven’t received any reply from them. We needed Rs400,000 for participation and have already cancelled our flight reservations.”
Apart from shortage of funds, the ministry has also failed to issue the required NOC for participating in the tournament where Pakistan finished as runners-up last year, a fact that Sheikh referred to while terming any possible withdrawal from the event as ‘a huge setback’.
Cueists continue training
Meanwhile, the cueists who are lined up to take part in the event, including Asia number two Mohammad Sajjad, national champion Mohammad Shahid and the seasoned Imran Shahzad, are continuing their training in Islamabad.
Sajjad, while terming the situation disappointing, said that the cueists will continue their training in case their participation materialises.
“We’re concentrating on our training regardless of what happens,” said Sajjad. “We should be prepared and hope for the best. We’re helping each other in the camp and training for hours daily.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2011.
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