KARACHI, Feb 21: The National Junior U-21 Snooker championship which mark the opening of domestic circuit starts at the Karachi Club on Sunday aimed at unearthing new talent.

Thirty two cueists representing the four provinces have been equally drawn in eight groups. Top two players from the each group will advance to the knockout pre quarter-finals after completion of group engagements.

The group matches will be of best of five frames, pre quarter-finals and quarter-finals will be of best of seven while semi-final and final will be of best of nine. The final will be played on Feb 27.

Contrary to the original format, Sindh and Punjab has got three and two additional berths respectively to fill the vacuum created by Balochistan and NWFP.

According to Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA), the break up is Sindh (11), Punjab (10), Balochistan (5) and NWFP (6).

Meanwhile, in a late development, the organisers have scratched a Balochistan player Mehmood on the pretext of being overage. His place was filled by Abdul Basit, the Sindh No 11.

With the exception of six players from Punjab who were to reach here late Saturday, other outstation cueists have already arrived and provided boarding and lodging at the PSB Coaching Centre.

Groups:

A: Mohammad Ishtiaq (Sindh), Arsalan Munir (Punjab), Hamza Akber (Punjab), Sheroze Anis (Sindh).

B: M. Afzal (Punjab), Ahsan Raza (Sindh), Hamid Yunus (Punjab), Haris Nadeem (Sindh).

C: Umer Ejaz (NWFP), Asadullah Rogatia (Sindh), Ayaz Khan (Punjab), Abdul Basit (Sindh).

D: Razzak (Balochistan), Fahad (Sindh), Usman Shaikh (Punjab), Zeeshan Liaquat (NWFP).

E: Agha Bilawal (Sindh), Arsalan Sarwer (Punjab), M. Javed Iqbal (NWFP), Farhad (Balochistan).

F: Qamar Zaman (Punjab), Salman Siddique (Sindh), Fawad Khan (NWFP), Imran (Balochistan).

G: Riaz Jan (NWFP), Yasir Khan (Sindh), Amjad Iqbal (Punjab), Qamar (Balochistan).

H: Kamran ((Balochistan), Mohammad Azeem (Sindh), Kafil Nazir (Punjab), Ihsan Ali (NWFP).

Sunday’s fixtures:

Razzak v Zeeshan Liaquat, Mohammad Afzal v Haris Nadeem, Mohammad Ishtiaq v Sheroze Anis, Umer Ejaz v Abdul Basit (10.00am); Kamran v Ihsan Ali, Qamar Zaman v Imran, Agha Bilawal v Farhad, Riaz Jan v Qamar (12noon); Fahad v Usman Shaikh, Ahsan Raza v Hamid Yunus, Arsalan Munir v Hamza Akber, Asadullah Rogatia v Ayaz Khan (2.00pm); Mohammad Ameen v Kafil Nazir, Salman Siddique v Fawad Khan, Arsalan sarwer v Javed Iqbal, Yasir Khan v Amjad Iqbal (4.00pm).