KARACHI: The Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) has agreed to release Rs1.5 million to the former Asian snooker champion Hamza Akbar soon.

Hamza, who is playing professional circuit in England, is facing financial crisis to make ends meet.

The assurance came when Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) president Alamgir Shaikh called on the IPC Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada in Islamabad recently.

The PBSA chief apprised the minister about the pending cash award of Hamza as well as PBSF’s special grant besides requesting him for a space for snooker at the Karachi’s PSB Coaching Centre.

The PBSF chief, who returned from Islamabad the other day, said the minister has issued directives to resolve the issues of the PBSF.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has agreed to a proposal to hire Iran’s snooker coach Soheil Vahedi for a short stint of 15 days next month to train home cueists ahead of the world championship.

The world snooker championship will be held at Doha from Nov 18 to 29.

The PBSF chief informed that the PSB high-ups have agreed to hold the camp at the snooker hall of the PSB Sports Complex Islamabad and the players along with foreign coach will be provided boarding and lodging at the hostel.

Published in Dawn September 5th, 2016