LAHORE Former World snooker champion Mohammad Yousuf has said that he would set up an academy in Lahore to hone the skills of players of Punjab as the province had abundant talent in the sport.

Yousuf, who appeared to be somewhat dejected over the attitude of the national snooker association, said at a press conference on Wednesday that he had also decided to relocate to Lahore to promote the game in the province.

'The players from this province are talented and want to learn, a trend which does not exist in Karachi at that level, so I decided to settle in Lahore,' he said.

He said the junior and senior national champions of the game were also from Punjab which in itself spoke volumes of the available talent in the province.

He said the national association did not want to make better use of big names like him, who had delivered internationally. However, he added that in the interest of the game he would accept any post the association offered him to serve the cause of snooker.

Yousuf disclosed that he would start the academy from Nov 21 in Johar Town, and Pakistan Test all-rounder Abdul Razzaq would inaugurate it.—Sports Reporter