Confident Pakistan get snooker campaign underway
Shahzad, Toba to play opening matches at World Snooker Championship today.
KARACHI:
Pakistan number one cueist Imran Shahzad remained confident over his chances at the IBSF World Championship in Bangalore that starts today with 78 other players competing in the prestigious tournament.
Shahzad will be accompanied by Asif Toba, making his first appearance in an international event, and will play his opening Group J match against Poland’s Krzysztof Wrobel today. Interestingly, Shahzad’s second match is against former Pakistan cueist Saleh Mohammad, who now represents Afghanistan.
While there are high hopes from Shahzad, doubts regarding Toba’s ability to perform at the international level raise question marks over Pakistan’s chances at the event that finishes on December 3.
Toba booked his seat for the World Championship after finishing runner-up to Shahzad in the ranking tournament held in October but faced a first-round exit in the next event as calls for his replacement started to arise.
However, Shahzad placed his confidence in Toba but admitted that he will have to play the leading role. “My first match is against a very good player,” Shahzad told The Express Tribune. “Krzysztof is a tough opponent but it’s a good thing because this match can set the momentum for me.
“As far as Toba is concerned, I’m sure he’ll make a winning start. He’ll play an Afghanistan cueist [Rais Khan Sen Zahi] and he’s sure to win. But I really can’t say the same for myself. Krzysztop is an experienced player but the best part is that my most difficult match is the first one,” said Shahzad.
The top two from each four-player group advance to the next round and Shahzad was confident of beating the other three cueists — from Tanzania, Korea and Japan. “I’m confident of making it to the quarter-finals because I’m in an easy group.”
Meanwhile, Shahzad voiced concerns over not having a team manager to accompany the team. The Pakistan contingent, which faced visa issues, had to travel without manager Munawar Hussain Shaikh due to the problem.
“Having a manager would have been helpful as I feel sort of alone here. Toba is playing in an international event for the first time and this increases my responsibility,” added Shahzad.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.
Pakistan number one cueist Imran Shahzad remained confident over his chances at the IBSF World Championship in Bangalore that starts today with 78 other players competing in the prestigious tournament.
Shahzad will be accompanied by Asif Toba, making his first appearance in an international event, and will play his opening Group J match against Poland’s Krzysztof Wrobel today. Interestingly, Shahzad’s second match is against former Pakistan cueist Saleh Mohammad, who now represents Afghanistan.
While there are high hopes from Shahzad, doubts regarding Toba’s ability to perform at the international level raise question marks over Pakistan’s chances at the event that finishes on December 3.
Toba booked his seat for the World Championship after finishing runner-up to Shahzad in the ranking tournament held in October but faced a first-round exit in the next event as calls for his replacement started to arise.
However, Shahzad placed his confidence in Toba but admitted that he will have to play the leading role. “My first match is against a very good player,” Shahzad told The Express Tribune. “Krzysztof is a tough opponent but it’s a good thing because this match can set the momentum for me.
“As far as Toba is concerned, I’m sure he’ll make a winning start. He’ll play an Afghanistan cueist [Rais Khan Sen Zahi] and he’s sure to win. But I really can’t say the same for myself. Krzysztop is an experienced player but the best part is that my most difficult match is the first one,” said Shahzad.
The top two from each four-player group advance to the next round and Shahzad was confident of beating the other three cueists — from Tanzania, Korea and Japan. “I’m confident of making it to the quarter-finals because I’m in an easy group.”
Meanwhile, Shahzad voiced concerns over not having a team manager to accompany the team. The Pakistan contingent, which faced visa issues, had to travel without manager Munawar Hussain Shaikh due to the problem.
“Having a manager would have been helpful as I feel sort of alone here. Toba is playing in an international event for the first time and this increases my responsibility,” added Shahzad.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.