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Cash reward debacle: PBSA sends revised request to IPC

Pakistani cueists Asif and Sajjad now hoping to jointly receive Rs30m

Our Correspondent January 27, 2015

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif had earlier approved only Rs500,000 for Asif, despite a due payment of Rs22.5 million as per the National Sports Policy, which an infuriated PBSA refused to accept. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has sent a revised request for the release of cash awards for Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Sajjad, while an additional proposal of revising cash awards for different medals has also been pitched.

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif had earlier approved only Rs500,000 for Asif, despite a due payment of Rs22.5 million as per the National Sports Policy, which an infuriated PBSA refused to accept.

Later, a PBSA official, along with the two players, met President Mamnoon Hussain and Inter-Provincial Secretary (IPC) Ijaz Chaudry to submit a revised summary of the details as the initial prize money was deemed too much by the state’s quarters.

The PBSA has now sent a request of Rs30 million – Rs17.5 million for Asif and Rs12.5 million for Sajjad — as the association withdrew Asif’s Asian 6-Red title from the revised demand.

“We’ve sent a revised proposal to the IPC and hopefully we’ll get a positive response from the PM this time around,” PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh told The Express Tribune during a press briefing of the Jubilee Insurance 40th National Snooker Championship.

“Additionally, we’ve submitted the new policy on cash awards to be given to athletes on winning different medals. The Pakistan Sports Board is looking into our proposal and will hand out new cash awards after formal vetting and additions.”

Meanwhile, the national championship will start from January 31 with 45 players divided into eight groups.

Muhammad Asif Toba will go in as the defending champion, while the winner and runner-up of the event will qualify for the 31st Asian Snooker Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Malaysia from April 21-30, subject to the availability of funds.

Jubilee Insurance also gave Rs10,000 to each player who participated in the Asian 6-Red and Team Championship hosted by Pakistan last year.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2015.

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