Karachi: Pakistan’s top two snooker players Muhammad Sajjad and Muhammad Asif have been granted visas by the Indian High Commission to take part in the World Amateur Championship in Hyderabad this month but their participation remains doubtful because of financial issues.
A senior official of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association admitted that the sports ministry had released only 40 per cent of a special grant it had promised the two cueists for the World Championship.
“This is not enough and we have asked the ministry to release more funds so that the two players can go and take part in the prestigious event,” PBSA President, Alamgir Sheikh said.
He said the PBSA was a cash-strapped body because sponsors were not willing to fund snooker in the country.
“So we need government assistance in this regard,” he added.
“Our travel documents and other arrangements are in place but now we are just waiting for this money issue to be sorted out,” Sheikh said.
The World Championship is due to be held in Hyderabad from November 15.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 05, 2009, 12:28