KARACHI: The World Professional Billiards Sno­oker Association (WPBSA) has renewed two-year contract of former Asian champion Hamza Akbar for 2017-2019.

“The WPBSA has renewed the contract on the basis of my performance in the circuit over the last two years,” Akbar, who was in town on a private visit, told Dawn.

Akbar, who scaled new heights by crowning Asian snooker title on April 30, 2015, at Kuala Lumpur, became eligible to join pro-circuit and play for two years that he subsequently did.

While winning the Asian glory, he became the first Pakistani to defeat highly reputed Indian cueist Pankaj Advani by 7-6 frames in the fully stretched final.

“I’ve received the visa and will fly to Birmingham from Islamabad in the second week of next month to join the circuit,” he added.

Akbar, 24, who represents National Bank of Pakistan, said his highest ranking in the circuit in 2016 was 73. A native of Faisalabad, Akbar said he looks forward to appear in an international championship in England from Sept 26.

According to him, 11 competitions are slated to take place in the first year of the pro circuit.

Referring to his financial woes, the cueist said he was struggling to make ends meet as a lot of money is required for travelling, accommodation and meals.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2017