India has refused to clear players for the Asian snooker championships in the Pakistani city of Karachi because of security fears, a Pakistani snooker official said yesterday.
India was among the 15 nations due to compete at the annual Asian amateur championship from April 27 to May 3, but the Indian external affairs ministry refused permission, said Alamgeer Shaikh, the president of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association.
“All the top Asian countries are coming for the championship, but India’s decision will affect the relationship of the two countries in sport,” Shaikh told AFP.
This is India’s second regional championship snub for Pakistan after New Delhi refused to clear its squash players for next month’s Asian championship in Islamabad. India also cancelled a proposed bilateral hockey and snooker series with Pakistan last month.
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