January 7, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 6, 1426

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KARACHI, Jan 6: In the aftermath of ban imposed by the government on tobacco companies to sponsor sports, the Pakistan Sports Trust (PST) has come to the rescue of Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) and the two would soon join hands.

“Plans for setting up a Snooker Academy at Islamabad’s Liaquat Gymnasium are on the anvil while a PST marketing team is preparing feasibility for the uplift of the baize game in the country,” PBSA president, Ali Asghar Valika, told Dawn on Thursday.

Valika said the PST had agreed in principle to buy new 16 Viraka Co tables imported from abroad in the recent past.

Eight tables would be made available for players at the proposed snooker academy while the remaining would be given to the provinces as per recommendation of PBSA, he added.

The tables were imported by PBSA on subsidised rates under an agreement with the world body, IBSF, for the world championship which had to be put off following earthquake.

To overcome the financial crunch, he said PBSA had submitted a request to the PST to help find a sponsor as it was finding it difficult to continue with the staging of at least four ranking tournaments, a billiards and pool competition, an international competition besides the regular India-Pakakistan series and financing trips for World and Asian meets annually.

Comparing annual budget with other national sports bodies, he said it was very meagre and comes to Rs. 4 million.

He disclosed that following cancellation of last year’s world championship, a Grand Prix snooker tournament involving all member nations was being held in England next month.

To be held under a new format, it would be held under the aegis of England and Wales Association.

The PBSA chief said IBSF has agreed to consider Pakistan’s request for hosting the 2007 World championship.