Pakistan’s snooker players are unable to participate in the IBSF World U17 & U21 Snooker Championship in Bangalore after Indian authorities denied the contingent the necessary visas, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

This development has led to considerable disappointment within the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) and the broader snooker community.

The Pakistani delegation, which was poised to compete in the prestigious event, included PBSA Chairman Alamgir A Shaikh, referee Naveed Kapadia, and three promising young players—Ahsan Ramzan, M. Hasnain Akhtar, and M. Hamza Ilyas.

Despite receiving the required clearances from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and other relevant authorities, the team were unable to proceed due to the visa refusal.

The PBSA expressed its deep regret over the missed opportunity, emphasizing the significance of the setback.

"This is a significant setback not only for our team but also for the international snooker community," a PBSA spokesperson stated.

 "Our players had a strong chance of securing medals, and their absence is deeply disappointing."

 The PBSA has taken formal action by protesting with both the Billiard & Snooker Federation of India and the International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF).

The association has criticized the decision to withhold travel documents from the Pakistani team, arguing that it undermines the spirit of sportsmanship and international competition.