KARACHI: Members of Pakistan snooker team have vowed to annex both the titles in the second Asian team event and third 6-Reds snooker championships that run concurrently at a five-star hotel here from Aug 17 to 23.

“We’re in good form and in addition, have the home advantage,” they told Dawn after a practice session at a snooker club run by former international Khurram Agha on Sunday.

Former world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif will defend his crown in the 6-Reds event that he captured at Doha, Qatar, last year.

Apart from trio of Asif, Sajjad and Asjad, other cueists demanded of the government to provide them employment opportunities so that they can focus on game.

Mohammad Asif

Age: 33

National ranking: 7th

Employment: National Bank of Pakistan International achievements: Won world snooker championship at Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2012; runner-up 12-nation snooker tournament at Dubai in 2012; featured in world championships thrice in 2009 in India, 2012 in Bulgaria and 2013 in Latvia; Asian championship 2009 in China, 2012 in Qatar, 2013 in Karachi; won Asian 6-Reds title at Doha in 2013; won gold medal in world team event at Ireland in 2013; runner-up world team event at Egypt in 2014.

Domestic achievements: Won national snooker championship twice in 2009 an 2012; won fourth national ranking tournaments in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Mohammad Sajjad

Age: 28

National ranking: 9th

Employment: National Bank of PakistanInternational achievements: Runner-up Asian snooker championship at Thailand in 2010; won Korat Cup, a Thai ranking tournament in 2010; placed third in seven-nation tournament at Karachi in 2012; featured in 6Reds tournament at Thailand in 2008, 2009 and 2011; featured in Shanghai Masters China in 2010; featured in world ranking event at Thailand in 2011; featured in world snooker championship in 2009 in India, 2010 in Syria, featured in Asian snooker championship in 2008 in Dubai, 2009 in China, 2010 in Thailand and 2013 in Karachi; won bronze in 2010 Asian Games snooker team event at Guangzhou; won gold medal in world team event at Ireland in 2013; won bronze medal in world snooker championship at Latvia in 2013; won silver medal in world team championship at Egypt in 2014.

Domestic achievements: Won national snooker championship twice – 2008 and 2010; finished runner-up once in 2009; won NBP ranking tournament in 2009; won third jubilee ranking tournament in 2009.

Mohammad Asif Toba

Age: 33

National ranking: 1

Employment ---International achievements: 2011 world championship at Bangalore; 2014 Asian snooker championship Fujairah.

Domestic achievements: Won national championship in 2014; runner-up in two national ranking events in 2010 and 2011.

Hamza Akbar

Age: 20

National ranking: 2

Employment: International achievements: Featured in world under-21 snooker championship at Iran in 2009 and Beijing in 2013; Asian under-21 at India in 2013; featured in Asian team event at Qatar in 2013; featured in Asian snooker championship at Fujairah in 2014 and Asian under-21 at Fujairah ; won bronze at Asian under-21 at Chundigarh, India, in 2014.

Domestic achievements: Won national snooker championship in 2013; won Punjab Cup seniors in 2012; won under-21 Punjab Cup in 2010 an 2012; runner-up in national under-21 snooker championship in 2009.

Asjad Iqbal

Age: 23

National ranking: 3rd

Employment: National Bank of Pakistan International achievements: featured in world under-21 at Iran in 2009; Asian under-21 at India in 2010; featured in Asian snooker championship at Bangkok in 2010; Dubai international in 2012; world championship Bulgaria in 2012; Asian snooker championship at Fujairah in 2014.

Domestic achievements: Won national snooker championship in 2009; runner-up in national championship in 2010; won NBP national ranking titles in 2010, 2012, 2013; runner-up in Del Monte ranking; won national under-21 in 2009; won Jubilee Insurance ranking in 2010.

Sohail Shahzad

Age: 32

National ranking: 4th

Employment: Runs snooker parlour International achievements: Won Sindh Cup 2004; featured in 2006 Asian Games at Doha; won bronze at 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games (team event); featured in world championship held at Syria in 2010; featured in seven-nation international tournament at Karachi in 2012.

Domestic achievements: Lost ranking final in 2009 and 2010 both to Imran Shehzad.

Abdul Sattar

Age: 30

National ranking: 6th

Employment –International achievements: Featured in seven-nation international tournament at Karachi in 2012; 29th Asian snooker championship at Karachi in 2013.

Domestic achievements: Won Sindh Cup in 2010; lost national ranking tournament final in 2013.

Shahid Aftab

Age: 33

National ranking: 15th

Employment: Works in snooker club International achievements: Featured in Asian snooker championship at India in 2011; featured in world amateur snooker championship at Thailand on 2011; Pakistan-Iran snooker series in 2011 and 29th Asian snooker championship at Karachi in 2013.

Domestic achievements: Won Punjab Cup in 2011; won national championship in 2011; won Jubilee Insurance national ranking event in 2013.

Imran Shehzad

Age: 40

National ranking: 8th

Employment: Runs snooker parlour in Lahore.

International achievements: featured in four world amateur snooker championships – 2007 in Thailand, 2010 in Syria, 2011 in India and 2013 in Latvia; featured in four Asian championship – 2004 in Jordan, 2006 in Sri Lanka, 2011 in India and 2013 in Karachi; three Asian Games -- 2002 in Busan, 2006 in Doha and 2010 in Guangzhou (team event bronze); featured in 6-Reds tournament in 2011.

Domestic achievements: Finished runner-up in national snooker championship four times in 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2013; won Del Monte ranking tournament in 2010; won NBP ranking tournament in 2011 and third Jubilee Insurance ranking tournament in 2011, won 9-Redball Billiards in 2004; won Punjab Cup in 1997.

Shehram Changezi

Age: 30 National ranking: 12th

Employment: NUST University Islamabad Domestic performance: Won national ranking event at Islamabad in 2007, won national ranking event at Karachi in 2008. Best NR No 1 in 2008.

International performance: Won bronze at 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games (team event)

Participated in pro-am event in England on self-finance basis.

Mohammad Bilal (to make international debut)

Age: 37

National ranking: 5th Employment: Runs a snooker club Domestic performance: 2013 lost fourth NR final to Mohammad Asif.

Published in Dawn, Aug 11th, 2014