PBSA appeals to government to release funds for Hamza

KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has appealed to the government to release the funds promised to Hamza Akbar, a former Asian Champion and the first Pakistani to have qualified for the WPBSA Professional Circuit. 

“Substantial funds are required to play in the WPBSA Professional Circuit in the UK. Minister for sports had announced a cash award and financial assistance of Rs2.5 million for Hamza when he won the coveted Asian title and qualified for the professional circuit on a two-year contract with the WPBSA,” PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh said on Tuesday. 

“Almost a year has passed but no progress has been made yet,” he added.

He said that Hamza required Rs4 million for a two-year contract with the WPBSA. “The PBSA took the initiative to arrange initial funds for Hamza to support his pro-circuit expenditure for at least one year and arranged the funds through association, sponsors and donors amounting to Rs1.5 million. But Hamza still requires funding of Rs2.3 million to conclude his contract in May 2017,” he said.

“He has informed us that he is in huge financial crisis in the UK and is facing great difficulty to manage his living costs and other necessary expenses. The PBSA has come to his rescue by extending further financial support through its own resources. Hamza is still accruing a total deficit of Rs1.8 million,” he added.