Snooker Association Faces Financial Crunch Despite Global Success

The Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) has made an urgent appeal to the government for the disbursement of overdue special grants. The association has cautioned that a significant financial crisis is threatening the nation’s ability to participate in upcoming international competitions.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, the PBSA revealed that it has not obtained any financial support from the Pakistan Sports Board since July 2024. This shortfall persists despite the national team’s achievements on the global stage, which includes securing a gold medal at the IBSF World Men Snooker Championship held in Doha during November 2024.

“The Association is about to commence its Snooker season for the fiscal year 2025-2026 while facing a severe financial situation,” the statement indicated. The PBSA also disclosed that it had to independently fund Pakistan’s involvement in four international events throughout the previous year. These events comprised tournaments hosted in Mongolia, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and the IBSF World Championship.

Due to its current financial difficulties, the PBSA conveyed that it might be compelled to withdraw its players from crucial international events scheduled for this season. These events encompass the Asian Team & 6 Red Championship in Sri Lanka later this month, the Commonwealth Championship in Mauritius in July, and the World Games in China this August.

“Given the existing circumstances, the PBSA anticipates challenging times ahead in fulfilling its international commitments for the year 2025–2026,” the statement cautioned. It also emphasized the difficulties of sustaining both domestic circuits and the administrative functions of the secretariat.

The PBSA stressed that, irrespective of the players’ exceptional performances, the release of special grants to defray international participation expenses remains pending. The association has requested the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) to step in and facilitate the prompt release of the necessary funds.

“This will empower the Association to initiate the current snooker season with a strong dedication to further advancing the sport of snooker in Pakistan,” the PBSA concluded.