A total of 17 countries have sent their entries to the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), including India, for the Jubilee Insurance 29th Asian Snooker Championship that will be held here from April 27 to May 3.

The information was revealed by the snooker body as the date for entries closed on April 7 and alongside hosts Pakistan, players from Afghanistan, Philippines, China, Qatar, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, South Korea, Iran, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Thailand, Mongolia and the UAE will vie for the coveted title .

Pakistan players’ list finalised

After being awarded the right to host the event, the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) has allowed Pakistan to field eight players. The PBSA finalised the list yesterday as per the latest rankings after the 38th National Snooker championship. Top seven players got direct entry alongside IBSF world champion Mohammad Asif, who made the cut courtesy his heroics in Bulgaria last year, to complete the list which includes Humza Akbar, Imran Shehzad, Muhammad Sajjad, Abdul Sattar, Baber Masih, Shahid Aftab and Abu Saim.

PBSA presses for Majid’s inclusion

Meanwhile, PBSA is trying to get Mohammad Majid’s name in the event after his superb show in the recently-concluded Asian U21 Championship where he lost in the final to Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham 6-5. 

We’ve specially written to the ACBS for Majid’s inclusion after his impressive show in the Asian U21 competition,” PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh told The Express Tribune. “His efforts deserve to be acknowledged which is why we’re trying to get his name included as well.”

Both Majid and Pakistan’s current national champion Humza took part in the event. While Humza crashed out in the last-16, Majid enjoyed a superb run until he met his end in the final.

The PBSA official further said that they are likely to arrange a training camp for the players from April 15.We’re considering arranging a camp from 15 of this month but it hasn’t been finalised yet.”