Zuraish aiming to take cue game to greater heights
The game of billiards and snooker which has been in the doldrums for nearly two years is bound to take a big leap as Zuraish Hashim the incumbent President of Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka (BSASL) has drawn up elaborate plans in the day’s to come to take the game to greater heights.
The Sunday Times in an interview with Zuraish who took over the reins in late March this year emphasised what the BSASL is looking forward to deliver for the cueists in sustaining the sports and to bring back the game to where it was.
Zuraish Hashim now heads the BSASL
There is no denying that the first ever world title was brought to the island by the world class billiard maestro M.J.M. Lafir in 1973 when he clinched the title in Bombay but since then nothing significant has taken place down the years.
Zuraish was optimistic saying “I must first thank for the support extended to me by my dynamic committee with whose co-operation we have been able to start off with success. So far we have been able to conduct the national snooker championship and the six ball snooker tournament within a space of a month and we are now gearing up to conduct the national billiards championship which is due to begin next week.”
Speaking of the several programmes that has been slotted to be conducted he said that the BSASL has drawn up plans in order to maintain the playing strength of the national players along with selection and tournament committee under his guidance.
“Our ambition is to implement a development program for the benefit of the cue sports and with that in mind we have embarked on an ambitious plan for the future growth and sustainability of the cue sport whilst maintaining the focus on young blood,” Zuraish said.
Billiards and snooker hardly saw youngsters taking over the reins from veterans such as Henry Boteju - Pic by Amila Gamage
Zuraish who has been elected as one of the vice president’s of the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) has been able to take a major step towards the development after a discussion with the incumbent President of the ACBS Mubarak al Khayarin at the recently concluded Asian Snooker Championships in Dubai.
“We have talented youngsters who no doubt if given the necessary backing could at least be brought up to Asian standards and that’s our first target. With that in my mind we invited a specialist in this game Mike Russell to coach our players. Mike has identified the talent and has selected four aspiring youngsters who will undergo strenuous training. If they are not employed we will find them a job and also they will be paid a monthly allowance so that they will be employed and concentrate on the game seriously.
“We are also trying to send two players for training to Thailand for six weeks as billiards and snooker is big time game in Thailand who has produced top class players,” he added.
Mike Russell’s tenure will come to an end this month as he is billed to take part in the World Billiards Championship and thereafter he will be leaving to Malaysia for a coaching stint for three years, but in between he will be coming to Sri Lanka to offer help. Plans are also on foot apart from the national billiard and snooker championships to conduct six ranking tournaments in order to rank the players.
All future participants representing the country in Asian or international tournaments will be selected from among the ranking structure, thus eliminating players who have not shown commitment towards building their strength and maintaining high standards expected from them.
He further stated that the BSASL control council members have also collectively agreed and determined that the cue sports development programme should be given top priority.
The first will be to promote cue sport among government departments, private establishments and schools and conduct inter-school tournaments offering attractive prizes for the winners.
To establish an academy for cue sports which will disseminate knowledge and conduct coaching programmes, thus while developing the standard of the players would contribute towards the future sustainability of the sport.
The incumbent president is no pull over as he has vast experience in the cue game which he has been involved for a long period. He has played the game at the highest level and represented the country at international tournaments.
This makes Zuraish a man who could walk the talk as he is hell bent to take the game of cue sports to great heights. With so many ideas he is confident of achieving the aims with the support of the hard working committee. Zuraish has had a discussion with Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage and mentioned the plans he has drawn up for the future for which the minister has promised to support which no doubt will be a boost for the game.