KARACHI The Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) has formally accepted Pakistan's bid to play host to the Asian under-21 snooker and billiards championships simultaneously next year.

'The annual general body of the ACBS, which met during the 25th Asian Snooker Championship in Tangshan, China, earlier this month, has given a go-ahead to Pakistan to host the spectacle in April 2010,' Alamgir Shaikh, president of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) told Dawn on Tuesday.

If all goes accordingly, this will be the first time Pakistan stage the Asian under-21 snooker and billiards simultaneously.

He said according to another decision, Thailand will organise the 26th Asian Snooker Championship in Bangkok in May next year.

The PBSA president said Pakistan strongly protested to the ACBS for allowing former national champion Saleh Mohammad to represent Afghanistan in the China meet. He (Saleh), however, failed to qualify for the knockout stage.

Continuing, Alamgir said, the ACBS has in principle approved that a cueist has to wait for two years in future to change his nationality. The rule will be implemented once it gets the nod from the ACBS legal department, he added.

Commenting on the performance of Pakistan's Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad in the event, he felt sorry that the duo failed to come up to the mark.

'Reigning national champion Asif after qualifying for the knockout lost to UAE's Mohammad Sultan Al Joker in pre quarter-finals while former champion Sajjad even failed to advance into the next stage,' he added.

Alamgir said efforts are afoot to hire a coach on a long-term basis to help raise the standard.

He disclosed the government has released another instalment of Rs3,75,000 for the second national ranking tournament which is due to be held later this month. A matching grant was released by the government on the eve of this year's national championship.