KARACHI, Dec 1 Security concerns have compelled Pakistan to withdraw from hosting the Asian under-21 snooker and billiards championship which was scheduled to be staged in Karachi April next.

“We've withdrawn to play host to the event which we were supposed to stage in the first half of 2010 due to prevailing security fears,” former president of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA), Asghar Valika, told Dawn on Tuesday.

He said following Pakistan's inability to conduct the event, it has been re-allocated to the Indian city of Indore.

Valika, who is vice-president of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF), disclosed that Syria has been awarded the 2010 World Snooker Championship.

The decision, he said, was taken at the annual general meeting of the world governing body of the baize game which met on the sidelines of the world snooker meet in the Indian city of Hyderabad on Nov 24.Elaborating, he said, the IBSF elections would also take place in Syria.

The launch of 6-Red ball World Snooker championship in Dubai in April next is on the anvil.

“Being adviser to UAE Snooker Federation, I proposed the launch of the event which was tabled by all member nations,” he remarked.

The hosting of the shortest version of the game would cost UAE approximately $50,000, he said in response to a query.

The IBSF chief, he added, has asked to work out the modalities of the proposed six-day competition economically in a month's time.

He said the future of the 6-Red ball world championship depends on the success of the inaugural event.

In yet another decision, the IBSF board will meet twice during a year on the lines of ACBS. The next ACBS meeting is slated to take place in Dubai on Jan 29 and 30.

He termed the arrangements made for the world spectacle by India as remarkable. The Indian government fully supported the organisers and the event was covered live on their national television channel Doordarshan, he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has leaped three steps to attain seventh place in the latest world rankings from 10th, the PBSA president Alamgir Shaikh told Dawn.

The top 10 nations are 1. Thailand, 2. China, 3. Republic of Ireland, 4. England, 5. Wales, 6. India, 7. Pakistan, 8. UAE, 9. Belgium, 10. Scotland.

He applauded the performance of Pakistan's No 1 Mohammad Sajjad who after remaining unbeaten in the group and winning first knockout match went down 2-5 to Philip William in the last 32 round.

As regards his compatriot and Pakistan's No 2 Mohammad Asif, he said, the player played below par.

He emphasized the need of proper coaching to enhance the competition level of cueists when needed.

The PBSA secretary Munawwar Shaikh who attended the IBSF moot endorsed the views of the PBSA chief.

Englishman Alfie Burden, meanwhile, won the world snooker title beating Igor Figueiredo of Brazil 10-8 in the closely fought final.