Pakistani cueist Hamza Akbar to turn professional

KARACHI: Pakistan’s newly crowned Asian Snooker Champion Hamza Akbar is looking forward to make his mark on the professional circuit in England.

“By virtue of winning the Asian crown I have qualified for the professional circuit,” he told reporters after a reception hosted in his honour by Pakistan Billiard and Snooker Association (PBSA) here at the Karachi Club Annexe on Sunday.

He said as per the ruling he can play on the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) circuit for two years.

Akbar said he will be directly placed in the main draw and will be joining the circuit in July after event in Iran.

Hamza Akbar he was eagerly looking forward to rub shoulders with top professionals of the world. He said he had to finish among the top 64 in next two years on the WPBSA to continue playing on the professional circuit.

The 21 years old is the second Pakistani after Muhammad Yousuf to win the continental title after a lapse of 17 years.

Dazzling Hamza defeated former IBSF World Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani of India 7-6 to win the title for Pakistan at Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

“It was always my dream to win the title and my hard work paid dividend,” the country’s new snooker prodigy told reporters.

He thanked Almighty for achieving his objective after being 4-5 down.

“Despite being behind I played my normal game and kept reciting Holy Quran and Darood Sharif and that helped me to win the title,” he remarked.

He dedicated his victory to his whole family including his grandmother, coaches, friends and well wishers and the PBSA.

Akbar expressed the hope that Pakistan Sports authorities will provide long standing cash incentives to players for their achievements for the country including former IBSF World Champion and World Team and 6 Red Asian champion Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Sajjad.