KARACHI: Pakistan’s pair of cueists Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad have attributed 3-5 loss at the hands of Hong Kong One in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) team event final in Egypt the other day to ‘bad luck’.

“It was not our day as after drawing level three-all, we’re on way to go 4-3 up having seized commendable lead in the seventh frame which we squandered,” the country’s top two players told Dawn on return from Cairo in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) president, Alamgir Shaikh, also returned with the players. Team manager Jawaid Karim has arrived earlier.

The pair, who did Pakistan proud by capturing the team title at Carlow, Ireland, last year, has performed exceptionally having stunned teams like India One and Iran Two on way to making the final. Both India and Iran have world class players like Pankaj Advani and Hossein Vafaei in their ranks.

“I’ve compiled a break of 47 against Lee Chun Wai in the seventh frame which went unfruitful as the latter upon getting his chance changed the complexion of the match,” said Asif, who has won the IBSF world title at Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2012.

He regretted that his performance in the 6-Reds event was not up to the mark as after making it to the knockout stage (last-96) he could only win a single match before making early exit in last-64.

Two-time former national champion Sajjad, shared the views of Asif and said “bad luck” prevented us from retaining the title and creating history.

He gave full marks to Hong Kong who came from the jaws of defeat to stun the holders.

Indian Pankaj Advani captured the 6-Reds title by getting the better of Polish player Kacper Filipiak in the final. The latter had coasted to 5-2 victory over Sajjad in the quarter-final.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2014