(Web Desk) - India may lose the hosting rights for the upcoming World Snooker Championship after concerns raised over visa restrictions for Pakistani players, officials said Thursday.
The International Billiard and Snooker Federation (IBSF) has reportedly warned India that failure to grant visas to Pakistani participants could result in the championship being moved to another country.
Abdul Qadir, president of the Pakistan Billiard and Snooker Association, told private media that the IBSF has made it clear that if Pakistani players are denied visas, the event will be shifted elsewhere.
He added that Pakistan had previously raised its concerns with the IBSF, citing the 2024 incident when Pakistani players could not participate because visas were not issued by India.
Abdul Qadir said the World Snooker Championship is scheduled in India in November. “Once the visas are confirmed, we will await instructions from the Government of Pakistan. If the government allows travel, our players will go; otherwise, they will not participate,” he said.