December 01, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1428

KARACHI, Nov 30: While Pakistan cricket team’s tour to India is progressing well, the national cueists suffered a setback when their trip to Delhi was postponed for the third time in two years due to security concerns on Friday.

A five-member Pakistan snooker team was set to fly to the Indian capital on Monday for a return Pak-India Peace Cup snooker series due to be played from Dec 4 to 6.

The selected players who assembled in the city about a week ago were going through their final preparations when they received the news.

“Yes, the trip has been postponed on the request of the hosts,” president, Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Asghar Valika, told Dawn when approached at the Karachi Club.

He said Ravi Tandon, vice-president of the Indian Billiards and Snooker Federation, informed him about the postponement of the trip citing security concerns.

“The Indian Home Ministry has advised us to put-off the series as the security sleuths were busy with the Pakistan cricket team,” the PBSA chief quoted the Indian official as saying. Ravi also heads the Delhi Snooker Association.

Valika said the atmosphere was conducive in the past three legs of the series and with bodyguards placed with players on the tour it could have snatched away its charm.

“Sports have no boundaries it promotes brotherhood. There’s no loser but all winners,” he added.

The Pakistan-India Peace Cup snooker series was launched in 2003 after the two governments brokered peace initiative. Mooted by the PBSA president, the idea was reciprocated by his Indian counterpart.

Earlier, the trip to India was postponed twice last year owing to a lack of sponsors.

First it was supposed to take place at Delhi in September but was put-off until December. Again it was deferred and took almost a year to give it a final shape before postponing.