KARACHI, Jan 29: The Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) plans to introduce 6-ball snooker contest for non-member nations alongside the annual Asian championship.

Aimed at encouraging the low ranked countries, the proposal will come up for discussion at the ACBS board meeting which meets in Bangkok on Feb 2, its Executive Vice-President, Asghar Valika, told Dawn on Tuesday.

He is scheduled to fly to the Thailand capital on Friday.

He said countries like Vietnam, Laos and others who are not in the fold of ACBS needs encouragement which can only be done by launching a separate competition. “Its rules will be framed once the idea gets a nod from members,” he remarked.

Valika who was elected EVP in the ACBS moot held in the city last year on the sidelines of the 23rd Asian meet, said plans are also afoot to enhance the prize-money of Asian championship.

“The ACBS has finally got a long-term sponsor for the Asian spectacle and its terms and conditions are being worked out,” he added. Presently, ACBS pays the purse from its own resources.

The official said he will also brief the delegates about the arrangements being made for the 24th Asian Snooker Championship which gets into action at Dubai from May 1.

In addition, matters pertaining to the next Asian Games, liaison with the games organising committee and number of medals at stake will also be discussed.

Referring to the postponed Pakistan-India series he said his Indian counterpart has proposed to stage the reciprocal event sometime in April. The exact dates are to be finalised in due course of time, he said.

Valika, who also heads Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA), said the family of former PBSA president, the late Mazhar Puri, has come forward to sponsor the country’s premier championship for the next three years.

The details of the sponsorship including prize money, said to be highest in the domestic history of the game, will be released after a deal is inked, he said.

One of the late Puri siblings Imran, had the honour of representing the country in the past. The date of the National Championship will be announced soon after the country’s elections slated for Feb 18.