India-Pak snooker series postponed following Karachi twin blasts

Islamabad: The snooker series between India and Pakistan, which was due to be held in Karachi, has been postponed following the twin blasts that rocked the city on March 3.

The Indian snooker team was due to reach Karachi later this week for the series scheduled from March 7-10, but the twin blasts in Abbas Town that shook Karachi and sent law and order situation in the city reeling, made conditions unsafe for the tour, the Express Tribune reports. Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) President Alamgir Shaikh said due to security concerns, the Indian Travel Advisory Board has barred the Indian snooker team to visit Pakistan temporarily. Shaikh added it was not possible for any country to play in Karachi after the deadly blast and they accepted India`s request to hold the series until the situation gets better in the city. The neighbours have not played a snooker series since 2005, when India visited. All sporting ties were frozen after the deadly attacks on Mumbai in 2008, which were blamed on Pakistan-based militants, the paper reported. Cricketing ties were revived after a gap of five years when Pakistan toured India in December-January for a short limited-overs series, and despite the interruption, Shaikh praised India for agreeing to the series, the paper said. Snooker federations from both countries have decided to announce new dates once the situation is safer, the paper added. ANI