June 16, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1428

KARACHI, June 15: Indian maestro Yasin Merchant has supported the idea of holding frequent Indo-Pak snooker series, aimed at raising existing standards of the two countries.

“Launched four years back, the reciprocal series has generated a lot of interest among players on both sides of the border,” said Yasin, who is competing in the 23rd Asian Snooker Championship.

Pakistan won the inaugural Indo-Pak Peace Cup Snooker series by 43-33 points at home in 2003. India neutralised the lead when they swept the three-test return series held at Chandigarh in 2004. The Indians surged 2-1 up when they beat Pakistan again in 2005.

Pakistan will now travel to India as soon as dates of the return series are finalised.

Yasin, 40, who has two Asian titles to his credit (1989, 2001), said the level of the game has improved a lot across the world.

“It’s time both India and Pakistan should invite foreign coaches for the grooming of their own experts on scientific lines to come up to the mark,” he suggested.

A household name in the fraternity of the game in Pakistan the Mumbai- born Yasin said the competition was getting tougher day by day in India.