KARACHI: The fourth Asian team event and fifth 6-Reds snooker championships — men’s, women’s and masters — cues off at Abu Dhabi on Wednesday with Pakistan making an attempt to make amends.

Pakistan has fielded a four-member team in the event which has reached Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The quartet comprised former world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif, Asjad Iqbal, national champion Mohammad Bilal and Babar Masih.

Both Bilal and Babar are competing in the event for the first time. Bilal had made his international debut in the 32nd Asian Snooker Championship at Doha last month where he lost in the last-16 round.

The 6-Reds competition, which begins on Wednesday, concludes on Sunday (May 22) and will be followed by team event which culminates on May 26.

As many as 17 teams belonging to 14 nations will vie for honours in the men’s team event. Hosts UAE, Iran and Pakistan have fielded two teams apiece.

It is pertinent to mention that hosts Iran swept the men’s 6-Reds and team titles in the last event held at Kish Island last year.

Wednesday’s 6-Reds fixtures of Pakistani cueists:

Mohammad Bilal v Mohammad Alfalasi (UAE), Mohammad Asif v Eyad Alansari (Bahrain), Babar Masih v Ahmed Janahi (Bahrain), Mohammad Bilal v Omar Alajlani (Saudi Arabia), M ohammad Asif v Eissa Ali Al Hashmi (UAE), Babar Masih v Mohammad Mubeen.

Men’s team event groups:

A:UAE I, Iran 2, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Palestine.

B: India, Thailand, Qatar, Sri Lanka.

C: Iran I, Pakistan 2, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain.

D: Pakistan I, Malaysia, UAE 2, Iraq.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2016