KARACHI, Nov 10: The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) has nominated the Indian city of Ahmedabad and Syrian capital Damascus to stage the 2009 and 2010 World Snooker Championships respectively.

The decision in this regard was taken at the Annual General Meeting of IBSF, President of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Alamgir Shaikh told newsmen on Monday on his return from Wels (Austria) after the World Championship.

He said former president of Asian Confederation Billiards Sport, Asghar Valika was formally elected as the vice president of IBSF.

Commenting on the reported retirement of former world number two Saleh Mohammad, he said the cueist has been asked to officially intimate to the PBSA so his name could be excluded from the list.

He said it was Saleh’s personal decision and he never consulated or officially informed the association.

Alamgir said: “We were disappointed with Saleh and if Khurram can be more focussed he can rise in world rankings.”—APP