September 12, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 11, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 11: Pakistan snooker’s top man Asghar Valika bade adieu to his beloved game on Wednesday — after serving it for two decades — in the aftermath of Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association’s (PBSA) disaffiliation by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) earlier this month.

“I along with secretary Aspi Mavalwala and treasurer Wahid Tawawala are stepping down from the office to make room for a new team,” a dejected Valika told newsmen at a press briefing at the Karachi Club.

The general body of the PBSA meets at a local hotel on Monday to elect new office bearers.

The decision to step down came after the axe fell on the PBSA, shooting ball and adventure federations from the Ministry of Sports for violating National Sports Policy’s two-term clause. All the three bodies are non-Olympic sports and are not affiliated to the POA.

Since coming at the helm of PBSA in 1988 by succeeding Mazhar Puri, Valika was instrumental in taking the cue sport to new heights. He produced a world champion in Mohammad Yousuf in only six years who did the country proud at Johannesburg in Nov 1994 by winning the world event.

Yousuf later added Asian title of Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) to his tally in addition to capturing Senior Masters title at the world championship held at Amman, Jordan, in 2006.

Pakistan grabbed gold and two silver medals when the baize game became a medal sport in the Asian Games at Bangkok in 1998. At Busan four years later, Pakistan had to be content with two bronze.

The launching of the prestigious Indo-Pakistan Snooker Series at Karachi in 2003 also goes to Valika’s credit.

As far as hosting of events is concerned, Pakistan played hosts to a number of international events, including the 1993 World Championship, in a befitting manner.

The game took a new leap after PBSA under Valika struck a sponsorship deal with a tobacco firm. It was, however, discontinued after the government put an embargo on tobacco sponsorship in sports.

The dark side of his illustrious association with the game was that former celebrity and champion Yousuf became his strong critic while Saleh Mohammad’s nationality issue and off the field activities became controversial issues during his days. Lately, 10 players revolted against the PBSA and boycotted a national ranking tournament at Islamabad which also sullied the federation’s reputation.

Of late, the performance of the cueists also witnessed a downslide in global events. Many believed that Valika should have seen the writing on the wall and stepped down earlier which could have saved his otherwise glorious innings from being tainted.

But despite all this, Valika enjoyed a lot of respect in the international forums, the IBSF and ABSF.