12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 11: The recent performance of former world and Asian champion Mohammad Yousuf and Imran Shehzad at the 20th Asian snooker championship held in Aqaba (Jordan) , left much to be desired, said Ali Asghar Valika, president of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) and president Saarc Billiards and Snooker Federation, while talking to this correspondent on Friday.

The PBSA chief did not mince words when he said that Mohammad Yousuf should refrain from international tournaments and now give his time to coaching the youngsters. He lauded Yousuf's past achievements but said that the time has come for Yousuf to vacate his place for a youngster just as England's Nasser Hussain had done.

At the moment Pakistan is ranked No.2 in Asia, behind China and with the Chinese not contesting in the tournament and Thailand fielding a second string team, Pakistan had a great chance of reaching the finals and winning the Asian crown for the second time.

The PBSA chief said that he himself will be briefing the team before they leave for India and all the players will be told to perform to their potential and not rest back on their past laurels.

Although the Indians will now have a world and Asian champion in their ranks in a short span of six months, a splendid achievement for their coach Michael Ferreria, the Indian team has never beaten Pakistan in a tournament to date.