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KARACHI: International snooker returned to Pakistan after five years when it hosts Jubilee Insurance seven-nation snooker championship at the Hotel Pearl Continental from Sunday.
Two foreign teams, namely Thailand and India, have arrived while UAE was expected to land.
Three other foreign teams — Egypt, Iran and Bahrain — were due to arrive in the wee hours of Sunday.
An eight-member Pakistan team has also checked in the five-star hotel on Saturday. The home team comprised top eight players of the national ranking namely Mohammad Asif, Sultan Mohammad, Mohammad Sajjad, Naveen Perwani, Abdul Sattar, Sohail Shehzad, Vishan Gir and Sharjeel Mehmood.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan has played hosts to a number of international snooker events including world and Asian championships in the past. Pakistan last played to Asian spectacle in the city in 2007.
Incidentally, the mega event coincides with third anniversary of attack on Sri Lankan cricket team at Lahore that drastically damaged country’s image globally with a number of foreign teams refusing to visit due to security fears.
“I’m delighted to be in Pakistan again which I consider as my second home,” a tired but jubilant Indian snooker celebrity Yasin Merchant told newsmen after arrival at Karachi Airport Saturday evening. Yasin was accompanied by another cueist Mohammad Faisal Khan.
He called for reviving Indo-Pak Snooker Peace Cup on reciprocal basis which is the best way of promoting cordial relations between the two countries.
The two Thai cueists who arrived from Bangkok on Friday evening include Noppon Saengkham and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
The Indians and Thais were received at the airport by PBSA officials Alamgir Sheikh and Javed Karim.
According to draws, the 20 participants have been equally drawn into four groups. On completion of the league, top two from each group will qualify for quarter-finals. The event concludes on March 9.
The winner will fetch US $ 2,000 while runner-up receives US $ 1,000. US $ 100 will be given for highest break performer.
Meanwhile, organisers were busy giving final touches to the event. Two sessions will be played on the opening day.
Groups: A: Hossein Vafaei Ayouri (Iran), Noppon Saengkham (Thailand), Naveen Perwani (Pak), Hussain Mahmood (Bahrain), Sharjeel Mehmood (Pak).
B: Thepachaiya Un-Nooh (Thailand), Habib Sabah (Bahrain), Mohammad Sajjad (Pak), Mohammad Faisal Khan (India), Vishan Gir (Pak).
C: Yasin Merchant (India), Mohammad Al Joaker (UAE), Sultan Mohammad (Pak), Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed (Egypt), Sohail Shehzad (Pak).
D: Mohammad Mustafa Shehab (UAE), Yaser Ahmed Mohammed Elsherbiny (Egypt), Mohammad Asif (Pak), Syed Abooyesani (Iran), Abdul Sattar (Pak).
Sunday’s fixtures: Naveen Perwani (Pak) v Hussain Mahmood Ali (Bahrain); Mohammad Sajjad (Pak) v Mohammad Faisal Khan (India); Sultan Mohammad (Pak) v Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed (Egypt); Mohammad Asif (Pak) v Saeed Abooyesani (Iran) at 12noon; Noppon Saengkham (Thailand) v Sharjeel Mehmood (Pak); Habib Sabah (Bahrain) v Vishan Gir (Pak); Mohammad Al Joaker (UAE) v Sohail Shahzad (Pak); Yaser Ahmed M. Elsherbiny (Egypt) v Abdul Sattar (Pak) 2pm.
