KARACHI, Oct 23: Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) is planning to conduct three-nation snooker series involving China, Thailand and Pakistan next year.

“We are approaching China, Thailand to feature in the series” PBSA President Ali Asghar Valika told newsmen on Thursday. He said dates venue and format will be finalized after the confirmation from these countries.

“Main objective of staging the series to provide Pakistani cueists high level competition to raise their game” he said. PBSA chief said both China and Thailand are front ranked snooker nation in Asia.

He said three-match snooker between arch-rivals, Pakistan and India will be held here from Dec 16 to 20 and Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) has relayed the name of its five-member squad for the series.

They included Yasin Merchant, Alok Kumar, Pankaj Advani and Mannan Chandra.

Former World Billiards Champion and BSFI Coordinator Michael Ferreira will be the manager-cum-coach of the team.

He said these names has been submitted to the government for clearance and issuance of visa to the Indian snooker squad.

He said Pakistan’s four top players Khurram Hussain Agha, Saleh Muhammad, Naveen Perwani and Muhammad Yousuf will represent Pakistan.

PSBA boss hoped the series will be beamed live on television for which negotiations were already in advance stage.

He expressed his delight over the Indian government’s decision to restore full sporting ties with Pakistan.

“I always believed that politics should be kept away from sports. The decision decision will have great impact in bringing people of the two countries closer,” he added.—APP