KARACHI, Oct. 9: A Birmingham-based Pakistani named Shahrukh Nasir would be appearing in the National Junior Snooker Championship scheduled to be held in January 2008, President Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Asghar Valika said on Tuesday.

Valika said Shahrukh’s father phoned him from England and expressed his desire to enter his son in the national junior competition keeping in view his potential.

The PBSA chief said dates and venue for the junior championship will be finalized in due course of time.

Giving details, he said, the 15-year-old promising cueist Shahrukh has the honour of practising with top English professional Tom Ford and made his first century break at a tender age of ten.

Valika was of the view that it would be nice to include an overseas player of Pakistan origin because the country was already lacking in talent at the junior level and the PBSA was keen to groom young talent by reviving the junior event after almost a decade.

In 1998, an England-based Pakistan professional Shokat Ali won the first-ever individual gold medal in Bangkok Asian Games Snooker and later served as coach of the team before Doha Asian Games.

Valika disclosed that the qualifying process for the junior championship had been launched in the four provinces of the country and about 32 boys will be taking part in the National Junior Championship.

He added that the National Seniors Snooker will be held in February 2008.

According to the PBSA official, the Pakistan senior team has a busy schedule in November and December with three international assignments.

Valika said a three-member Pakistan team comprising Naveen Perwani, Khurram Agha and Abu Saim will represent the country in the Asian Indoor Games in Macau while Saleh Mohammad and Imran Shehzad will feature in the World Snooker Championship to be held in Korat, Thailand in November.

In December, a four-member Pakistan team will also undertake a week- long visit to New Delhi to play the fourth edition of the Test series against India.—APP