KARACHI, Feb 1: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) circuit begins when the Jubilee Insurance fifth National juniors’ under-21 snooker championship cues-off at Sheraton hotel on Monday with 24 cueists from four provinces set to compete for the honours.

“The circuit is starting late due to delay in Punjab Cup and may suffer if some Balochistan players pull out as their association’s secretary has sustained bullet injuries in Quetta,” president of the PBSF, Alamgir Shaikh, told a news conference at the venue on Friday.

The event, which carries a total prize money of Rs105,000, forms criteria for selecting top two cueists for 14th Asian under-21 snooker championship being held at Indore, India, from April 1 to 7.

He said Pakistan has been allowed three entries but their participation is subject to availability of funds.

Unveiling format of the national juniors’ event, he said at the end of league, top two players from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. The winner receives Rs40,000 while the runner-up will pocket Rs20,000.

Referring to Indo-Pak series slated here in March, he said: “Confirmation from Indian counterparts pertaining to the series is expected next week.”

Alamgir also sounded optimistic when he said that some 25 nations are expected to feature in the Asian Snooker Championship in the port city. “When we can host seven-nation contest smoothly last year we can also host the Asian spectacle as well,” he added.

He answered in affirmative when asked if he was prepared to adjust the dates in case they clashed with the country’s general elections.

The sponsors and newsmen were taken aback when the PBSF chief informed that the finance committee of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has raised annual grant of the body from Rs900,000 to just one million rupees after Mohammad Asif’s triumph in the world meet.

“I’ve lodged protest in the strongest words with a number of high officials in the corridor of power in this regard,” he remarked.

To a question, he said he will apprise the Sindh chief minister soon with the revised architecture design of the proposed snooker academy in order to get some funds for the project.

Speaking on the occasion, sponsors Tahir Ahmed and Javed Ahmed said their relationship with the baize game has finally yielded fruitful results with the emergence of Asif as world champion.

“It’s like casting stone,” said Tahir while reiterating his demand to launch an under-15 snooker event.

At the outset, Alamgir attributed Asif’s success to his own skills sponsors role and efforts of the managing committee and the media.

PBSA officials Wahid Qadir, Munawwar Hussain Sheikh, Shabbir Daruwala, Arif Tahirbhoy, Shoaib Alam Khan and Naveed Kapadia.

Groups: A: Amir Tariq (Punjab), Waqar Bhatti (Balochistan), Tayyab Anwar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), M. Fahad Khan (Sindh), Ahsan Zakir (Balochistan), Mohammad Rafiq (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).

B: Khizar Aziz (Sindh), Zeeshan Mursaleen (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Aamir (Balochistan), Zahid Ilyas (Punjab), Ashar Arshad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shehryar Jaffar (Balochistan).

C: Mohammad Kashif (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Yasir (Sindh), Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab), Khushi Mohammad (Balochistan), Shariq Ali (Sindh), Mohsin Ameen (Punjab).

D: Saif Ali Khan (Balochistan), Hamza Akbar (Punjab), Haris Nadeem (Sindh), Amir Sohail (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Zain Ahmed (Punjab), Mohammad Usman (Sindh).