Indian team forced to withdraw from Asian Championship

Despite having permission from Pakistan to travel to the Asian Snooker Championship in Pakistan, the Indian team has had to withdraw as they failed to obtain the necessary permission to travel from the Indian government.



Sometimes sport and politics do have to mix, but really can't see anything other than sheer stupidity behind this.

Pakistan of course competed in the Under 21 Championship earlier this year in India.

Not that this is always an Asian problem, with Iran's Hossein Vafaei Ayouri still missing from the Pro Tour as he was refused a UK visa ...

Edit - Just to mention the unlucky Indian players missing out - Brijesh Damani and Manan Chandra, really sorry for them of course

Janie Watkins ‏@weewelshwitch

@snookerisland you tweeted about India not going to Asian Snk. next tweet on my feed was another bomb attack in Karachi #NotSafe

Snooker.Pk ‏@simply147 1m

@snookerisland We're invited n I'll b watching live most of d match. Will check now if I can get tomorrow fly from Islamabad to Karachi.

@snookerisland Do the best care and reception to the our honorable Indian and other teams is our national duty. Don't worry Sir.

@weewelshwitch @snookerisland in these days in the world even Boston isn't #NotSafe and don't worry our security knew how to do the duty.

A bit more detail here:

http://www.cricketzone.in/Thread-Follow ... n-Pakistan