NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has formally protested the denial of visas to its junior athletes and a nominated referee, preventing their participation in the IBSF U-18 and U-21 World Championships held in Bengaluru, India.
The tournament, which commenced on Saturday, saw no representation from Pakistan due to the visa hurdle faced by three promising players: Ahsan Ramazan, Hasnain Akhtar, and Hamza Illyas.
Alamgir Sheikh, a senior PBSA official, confirmed that despite timely visa applications and securing necessary clearances from both the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Sports Board, the Indian High Commission did not grant the visas.
“We had applied to the Indian High Commission on time after getting all NOCs from our government and Pakistan Sports Board. But they didn’t issue visas due to which our squad could not travel to Bengaluru,” Sheikh said, as quoted by PTI.
This decision has drawn sharp criticism from the PBSA, who believe it unfairly deprives their young athletes of a crucial opportunity to compete on the world stage.
Adding to the PBSA’s concerns, veteran referee Naveed Kapadia, nominated by the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) to officiate at the event, also faced visa rejection.
In response to the visa denials, the PBSA has lodged formal complaints with both the IBSF and the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India.
The association seeks clarification and accountability regarding the reasons behind the visa rejections, emphasizing the potential damage this situation inflicts on the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.
The tournament, which commenced on Saturday, saw no representation from Pakistan due to the visa hurdle faced by three promising players: Ahsan Ramazan, Hasnain Akhtar, and Hamza Illyas.
Alamgir Sheikh, a senior PBSA official, confirmed that despite timely visa applications and securing necessary clearances from both the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Sports Board, the Indian High Commission did not grant the visas.
“We had applied to the Indian High Commission on time after getting all NOCs from our government and Pakistan Sports Board. But they didn’t issue visas due to which our squad could not travel to Bengaluru,” Sheikh said, as quoted by PTI.
This decision has drawn sharp criticism from the PBSA, who believe it unfairly deprives their young athletes of a crucial opportunity to compete on the world stage.
Adding to the PBSA’s concerns, veteran referee Naveed Kapadia, nominated by the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) to officiate at the event, also faced visa rejection.
In response to the visa denials, the PBSA has lodged formal complaints with both the IBSF and the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India.
The association seeks clarification and accountability regarding the reasons behind the visa rejections, emphasizing the potential damage this situation inflicts on the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.
