KARACHI, Feb 16: The Ministry of Sports has come to the rescue of the cash-strapped Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) by releasing a substantial grant of over Rs0.8 million under different heads.

“The release of money has infused new spirit among the officials of the game as delayed domestic circuit is about to start next week,” President of the PBSA, Alamgir Shaikh, told Dawn on Monday.

Disclosing details of the break-up, he said the ministry has released Rs3,75,000 which is fifty percent of the estimated cost for the next month’s National Snooker Championship which runs from March 15 to 21 at Karachi Club.

Similarly, an amount of Rs2,36,000 which was pending on account of World Snooker Championship held at Austria last year has come in the PBSA kitty in addition to another Rs2,40,000 which is forty percent of the annual grant for 2009-10.

Alamgir, who succeeded Asghar Valika at the helm of affairs in September last, said another proposal of Rs4,50,000 grant pertaining to Asian championship in China in May has already been submitted to the ministry.

The circuit, meanwhile, begins when the National juniors snooker championship gets into action at the Karachi Club from Sunday. The event was revived after lapse of a decade last year and a private insurance firm has shown willingness to sponsor it for the second time running, he added.

He said for the first time the upcountry players who will feature in the juniors as well as seniors national championships will be provided boarding and lodging at the PSB Coaching Centre in the city.

The PBSA chief said the top two players of the National snooker championship who will travel to China will undergo a month long training under a coach at the Islamabad’s PSB Sports Complex. The camp starts from April 1.

“Plans are afoot to set up snooker academies at least in three cities — Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar — at the earliest,” he added.

Alamgir was of full praise for Sports Minister, Pir Aftab Shah Jilani, Director General, PSB, Amir Hamza Gilani for supporting the baize game to help restore its pride.