KARACHI: Perturbed on step-motherly treatment from the government for not rewarding in cash and kind after his Dec 2 IBSF snooker world cup winning feat, Mohammad Asif opens his campaign when he meets defending champion Asjad Iqbal in the fifth NBP Ranking Snooker Championship at the bank’s sports complex on Wednesday.

The group F tie between the two cueists is slated at 4.00pm.

Asif’s ranking has slumped from the top to 19th after his dismal showing in the 38th National Snooker Championship held earlier this year where the cueist failed to go beyond the league. Exhaustion due to excessive domestic traveling to apprise people in the corridor of power and businessmen about his rise to the top of the ladder and to cash it, besides an eye-infection are said to be factors of his declining form.

Hamza Akbar, who has leaped 21 places to reach his career-best top slot after crowning the national title, faces low profile Amir Shahzad of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in his group A opener at 10.00am.

Former Pakistan No 1 and losing finalist of this year’s national’s, Imran Shehzad, has made a great comeback in the circuit and is on the heels of Hamza. He is drawn against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Aakash Rafique in the opening session on Wednesday.

A total of 16 matches will be played in four sessions starting at 10.00am.

Wednesday’s fixtures:At 10.00am: Hamza Akbar (Punjab) v Amir Shahzad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imran Shahzad (Punjab) v Aakash Rafique (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) v Mohammad Uzair Aziz (Sindh), Abdul Sattar (Sindh) v Vishan Gir (Sindh).

At 12.00noon: Shahid Aftab (Punjab) v Ayaz Khan (Islamabad), Babar Masih (Punjab) v Rambel Gul (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abu Saim (Punjab) v Khurram Agha (Sindh), Farhan Noor (Punjab) v Shafiullah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).

At 2.00pm: Mohammad Yousuf (Punjab) v Mohsin Amin (Punjab), Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab) v Bahadur Khan (Balochistan), Amir Tariq (Punjab) v Sultan Mohammad (Sindh), Sharjeel Mehmood (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) v Amir Rasheed (Punjab).

At 4.00pm: Mohammad Javed (Punjab) v Naveen Perwani (Sindh), Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) v Mohammad Asif (Punjab), Umair Alam (Sindh) v Mohammad Bilal (Punjab), Mohammad Ishtiaq (Sindh) v Sohail Shehzad (Sindh).