Snooker: Dismal start for Pakistani cueists

Toba, Shahzad lose opening matches at World Championship.

Pakistan began their IBSF World Championships campaign in disappointing fashion as Imran Shahzad and Asif Toba lost their opening matches on day one.

Asif Toba went down 4-2 to Afghanistan’s Rais Khan Zahi, who started off well by winning the first frame 58-38. Toba, however, was quick to hit back taking the second frame 70-45 but Zahi won the third frame 79-09. The see-saw battle continued with Toba winning the fourth 58-49. However, that was the last bit of success he enjoyed as Zahi took the final two frames 100-08 and 71-31 to seal the win.

Meanwhile, Pakistan number one Shahzad lost narrowly against Poland’s Krzysztof Wrobel 4-3 despite racing to an 86-0 win in the opening frame. Wrobel responded well, winning 94-0 in the second and eventually winning the match.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2011.