(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
PBSA Raises Alarm Over Funding Crisis Ahead of New Snooker Season
KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has issued an urgent appeal for financial support, warning that a severe budget shortfall is threatening the 2025–2026 snooker season and Pakistan’s ability to participate in key international tournaments.
In a press release addressed to the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), the PBSA highlighted the growing challenge of sustaining operations without funding from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) since July 2024.
Funding Gaps Threaten National and International Participation
According to the PBSA, the delay in receiving financial assistance has placed considerable strain on the association’s ability to:
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Manage international tournament participation
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Maintain a functional domestic snooker circuit
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Cover core operational and secretariat expenses
Despite consistent international success, the PBSA noted that Special Grants promised for recent events have yet to be released, forcing the organization to rely on internal resources to support players’ travel and participation costs.
Recent Achievements Highlight Urgent Need for Support
The PBSA emphasized that Pakistani players have continued to perform exceptionally on the world stage. Notable achievements include:
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IBSF World Title in Doha (2024)
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Silver and Bronze medals at the World 6-Red Men & World Cup Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Gold medal at the IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship in Doha (Oct-Nov 2024)
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Gold and Bronze medals at the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship in Sri Lanka (Jan 2025)
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Bronze medal at the Asian Men & Under-21 Championships in Doha (Feb 2025)
Upcoming Events at Risk
Without immediate financial intervention, Pakistan may not be able to participate in the following high-profile tournaments:
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Asian Team and 6-Red Snooker Championships – Sri Lanka (June 22–28)
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Commonwealth Games – Mauritius (July 2–6)
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World U-17, U-21 & 6-Red Men’s Championships – Bahrain (July 13–24)
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World Games – China (August 7–17)
Call for Immediate Action
The PBSA has appealed to the concerned ministries to expedite funding to ensure Pakistan’s continued presence and competitiveness on the international snooker stage.
