After IPL success, Pak snooker federation plans shortened game

New Delhi, July 17: Even as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is pondering over an IPL-like tournament next summer, the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has taken the cue for a five-nation snooker championship next month, where the number of reds will be reduced to six from the normal 15. The meet will be held in Karachi from July 26-28.

The change, approved by the Asian Snooker and Billiards Federation, comes in the wake of the success of the Twenty20 World Cup and the recent Indian Premier League (IPL). Members of the Asian body who met in Bangkok recently have agreed to put on trial the change mooted by PBSA president Asgar Ali Walika, with support from his Indian counterpart, Capt PVK Mohan.

The teams invited for the meet include — besides hosts Pakistan — India, the UAE, Jordan and a fifth team that is yet to be decided. Capt Mohan, speaking to The Indian Express, said a resolution to this effect was mooted and passed by the Asian body.

Asked if it was anything to do with the success of the IPL, Capt Mohan admitted saying, “The concept had the backing of all the members because the sensational success of the T20 World Cup and the recent IPL in India could not be ignored.”

Apart from reducing the number of reds on the table, another innovation that will be tried out at the meet is a three-foul cap on players. Earlier, rules allowed any number of fouls, making the game slow. Another novelty at the meet would be that a player could only aspire for a highest break of 75, instead of 147, said the president of BSFI.

The Asian body has also allowed experimentation with a “shorter and sweeter” version of billiards to make it more spectator-friendly. Capt Mohan said that future billiards tournaments would be limited to a time format of maximum two hours, with a maximum break of 150. “This was necessary to attract crowds to the game,” he said.

This format, though on trial, would also be tried out at the World Championship in Bangalore this September. “Even the SEA Games in Laos next year will give it a shot as there is a strong feeling that the Asian bloc wants this introduced at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010,” said BSFI vice-president Ravi K Tandon.

Meanwhile, the national championships at Indore will see these innovations tested at home before the Bangalore meet. As per the Asian body’s ruling, henceforth all nationals will have a technical director for the tournament.

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