Cueist Muhammad Asif asks govt to consider him for Rs10m cash award

KARACHI: Ace cueist Muhammad Asif, having become the first Pakistani cueist to win the World Snooker Championship more than once, has requested the government to consider him for a reward of Rs10 million.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) here on Thursday, Asif made the request during his meeting with the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Dr Fehmida Mirza, in Islamabad the other day. The officials of the PBSA and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) were also present on the occasion.

“Asif requested the Federal Minister, IPC, to consider and recommend a cash award of 10 million, in recognition of his outstanding performance, as per the sports policy of the government for medal winners in international events,” the PBSA communique stated.

“The Federal Minister has assured that the IPC Ministry will forward a request to the Prime Minister for a befitting cash award for Muhammad Asif for his brilliant achievement of winning the IBSF World Snooker Title 2019 in Antalya, Turkey,” the PBSA communique added.

“The Federal Minister, during the meeting, was informed that Muhammad Asif has become the first Pakistan snooker player to bag two world titles. And globally, he is the second player to win the IBSF world snooker championship twice,” it added.

As per the information available with credible sources and also published earlier in ‘The News’ Asif actually became the fifth cueist to win the title more than once since its inception in 1963. He had earlier grabbed the title in 2012.