KARACHI, Feb 26: The top official of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) has expressed optimism to get no objection certificate (NOC) for Indian players when he along with world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif calls on Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad on Wednesday.

“Yes Mr. Malik has invited us for a hearing on Wednesday at 10am,” Alamgir Shaikh told Dawn on Tuesday.

Shaikh said he met the interior minister briefly in the corridors of National Assembly on Tuesday and later received a phone call from his secretary for an appointment on Wednesday.

“Asif is expected to reach Islamabad from Faisalabad tonight and will accompany me in the meeting,” he added.

He added that his Indian counterpart had shown great gesture by sending entries for upcoming Indo-Pak snooker series and the Asian snooker championship being held in Karachi and an early NOC from our interior ministry will save us from embarrassment.

Shaikh said apart from NOC issue, he will apprise the minister about Asif’s heroics in the world spectacle held at Sofia, Blugaria, hosting of Asian snooker championship and plans for uplift of baize game in the country.