PBSA has high hopes for Asif, Sajjad

Pakistan cueists can successfully defend IBSF World Team title, says official.

KARACHI: Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Sheikh feels that Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad have a good chance of defending their title as they will leave on Tuesday to participate in the IBSF World Team Championship and 6-Red competition.

Both events will be staged in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt from June 18 to 29. Apart from the players, Javed Karim will travel as manager, Sheikh as the delegate while Shabbir Hussain will participate as the Officiating Referee.

“We’ve got a lethal combination in Asif and Sajjad, which makes us favourites to defend our team championship title,” Sheikh told The Express Tribune.

“As far as the 6-Red Championship is concerned, I hope that both Asif and Sajjad will do well. Asif is already the Asian 6-Red champion. Having tasted success at the continental level will prove very helpful going into the global competition.”

Sheikh also presented cash awards of Rs100,000 each to Asif and Sajjad for winning the team event last year, adding that everyone associated with snooker has been left depressed by the attitude of government towards snooker’s world champions.

Reflecting on the Asian 6-Red Championship, which will be hosted in Karachi from August 17-23, the official stated that the PBSA is ready to host the event to the best of its abilities.

“We’re striving to host the Asian 6-Red Competition successfully, since we’re expecting to welcome as many as 15-20 countries.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.