The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) announced on Thursday players and teams for the upcoming Jubilee Insurance 3rd Asian 6-Red event and 2nd continental team championship respectively.
The names were finalised by the PBSA board and executive committee. The tournaments which will be held at the Avari Towers, Karachi from August 17-23.
Mohammad Asif will enter the 6-Red event as defending champion, while other cueists trying their luck include Mohammad Sajjad, Mohammad Asif Toba, Hamza Akbar, Asjad Iqbal, Sohail Shehzad, Abdul Sattar and Shahid Aftab.
On the other hand, two teams have been formed for the Asian Team Championship; former champions Asif and Sajjad being the first one, while the duo of Imran Shehzad and Aftab comprise the second.
“Pakistan, as the host country, is allowed to field two sides for the team event as per the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) rules, however the PBSA has requested the ACBS to allow two additional teams for the country; these will remain on standby till permission is granted,” read the PBSA press release.
The two teams on standby are that of Shahram Changezi, Asjad Iqbal and Sohail, Mohammad Bilal.
The Pakistani cueists are expected to report to Karachi on August 6 for a 10-day camp at the Khurram Agha Snooker Club.
“The players need to work hard and prepare well so that Pakistan has a realistic chance of winning both the championships,” PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh told The Express Tribune.
“We’ll be favourites for the team event because the combination of Asif and Sajjad is lethal, while there is a decent mix in the 6-Red competition too.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh revealed that Palestine had also confirmed its participation whereas Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Iran and China were expected to send their entries within the next three days.
“We should have a complete lineup of participants by next week for the two mega events and hopefully all the top players will be involved,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2014.
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