Visa issues sorted: Hamza departs for the UK to compete in professional circuit

Pakistani cueist travels after two-and-a-half-month delay

KARACHI: Pakistani cueist Hamza Akbar departed for the UK early on Monday to participate in the Professional Circuit, where he would compete against the best players of the world.

The 21-year-old qualified for world snooker’s top tier by winning the Asian championshipsas he defeated professional player Pankaj Advani of India. Hamza is only the second player from Pakistan to become a part of the prestigious competition — previously only Shaukat Ali has participated in the Professional Circuit.

“I’ve waited for almost two-and-a-half months to get my visa and I can’t wait any longer,” an ecstatic Hamza told The Express Tribune. “I’m very excited as it was a dream to become a professional player and now I’m very close to it.”



The Faisalabad-based cueist, who is currently ranked 108th, feels he has the talent to survive among the world’s best players and improve his ranking. “My aim is to make sure that over the next 24 months, I’m able to keep myself in the top-64 so that I can stay among the world’s elite.”

Hamza will stay with a Pakistani businessman Mohammad Nisar, who has his own snooker academy in Manchester, and sent the sponsor letter for the player.

“I would be staying with Nisar in Manchester for two years and he has welcomed me to the UK,” said Hamza. “It’s good that I would be with a Pakistani because that would allow me to slowly adjust to a new culture.”

The player has already missed three tournaments due to visa issues but is confident of making up for the loss time. “I have missed out on three tournaments but thankfully two of them didn’t carry big points,” he added. “The next event is on September 29 in China, while the qualifying round is in UK and it carries good points. My aim is go through the qualifying stage and that would be enough to help me get going.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st,  2015.

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