Pakistan rue tough draw at snooker World Cup

Sajjad, Aftab to compete alongside Doherty, Williams.

KARACHI:

Pakistan cueists were left ruing a tough draw as they left for Bangkok yesterday to participate in the PTT-EGAT Snooker World Cup that starts tomorrow.

The country’s number one player Shahid Aftab and Mohammad Sajjad are placed alongside Ireland and Wales in Group A of the tournament that features 20 teams from 19 countries with the hosts Thailand having line-ups in Group B and Group D.

“It’s going to be a tough draw,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “The Irish and Welsh cueists are very consistent; breaking them is difficult. However we’ve trained well.”

It will be the first time in 15 years that a team snooker World Cup is being staged and will run from July 11 to 17.

According to Sajjad, the biggest challenge for him will be to defeat Ireland’s Ken Doherty and his teammate Fergal O’Brien.

“It’s a herculean task for us,” said Sajjad. “For me, even qualifying for the second round will be an achievement.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2011.