Pakistan Junior Athletes Denied Visas for IBSF World Championships in India

Recently, the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) raised formal objections over the refusal of visas to its junior athletes and a nominated referee, prohibiting their participation in the IBSF U-18 and U-21 World Championships held in Bengaluru, India.

The tournament, which kicked off on Saturday, unfortunately saw no representation from Pakistan as three promising players – Ahsan Ramazan, Hasnain Akhtar, and Hamza Illyas, faced visa issues. Despite timely visa applications and obtaining necessary approvals from the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Sports Board, the Indian High Commission declined to issue the visas, confirmed Alamgir Sheikh, a senior PBSA official.

“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 expressed, as quoted by PTI.

This decision by the Indian High Commission has sparked criticism from the PBSA, who believe it unfairly robs their young athletes of a significant opportunity to compete on the global stage. Additionally, Naveed Kapadia, a veteran referee 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 is seeking clarification and accountability concerning the reasons behind the visa rejections, highlighting the potential detriment to the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.