KARACHI, Dec 20: Indian manager-cum-coach Michael Ferreira said on Saturday the return leg of the snooker ceries against Pakistan would hopefully be played in India in the first quarter of 2004.

“We will go back home and approach an appropriate sponsor for the series before it is given the shape”, former two-time World Billiards Champion Ferreira said.

He said he will be contacting and discussing the things with Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) before finalizing details of the series and hinted Hyderabad or Bangalore as possible venues for the series depending on sponsorship.

Mumbai-based Ferreira complimented Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) for preparing an interesting and exciting format of the series.

He lauded PBSA for initiating and launching the Peace Cup Snooker Series. “This will benefit cueists of both countries in raising their game at Asian and world level “ Ferreira commented.

“New era has started in snooker between the two neighbors and it will be soon pay dividend’, he said.

He described the series against Pakistan exciting and thrilling. “Saleh was main difference” he admitted.

Michael Ferreira said Khurram Agha had improved a lot and what he really needed to enjoy playing the game. “Khurram must toughen him self mentally.

Indian coach said he was delighted to see Indian teenager Pankaj Advani and Pakistan’s Saleh Muhammad playing in the final of World Snooker Championship in Jiangmen City (China).

“Advani and Saleh build the image of sub-continent by reach the final of the world championship” he recalled. —APP