May 25, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 08, 1428

KARACHI, May 24: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) are facing a dilemma over hosting of 23rd Asian Snooker Championship which begins in the city from June 11 as they are yet to ink a deal with any sponsor.

Dawn has learnt that the Pakistan Sports Trust (PST) has held out an assurance to the game’s controlling body for arranging sponsorship but nothing concrete has come up yet with the high-profile event approaching fast.

According to PBSA, hosting of the week-long event at a local five-star hotel is to cost around Rs 5 million.

The PBSA had a regular sponsor in a major tobacco firm with whose support the previous three Asian meets were held in 1991, 1998 and 2001 besides the World Championship in 1993. This was in addition to running the entire domestic circuit.

Following an embargo on tobacco companies to stay away from sports, a number of federations/associations — snooker in particular — are facing serious problems in finding a regular sponsor and keep the ball rolling.