KARACHI, Nov 3 The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday after receiving visas, NOC and part of special grant for competing in the World Snooker championship which is being held in Indian city of Hyderabad from Nov 15 to 25.

“Yes the visas for the team travel, NOC and 40 percent special grant has been received,” the PBSA president, Alamgir Shaikh, said on Tuesday.

As per PBSA policy, Pakistan No 1 Mohammad Sajjad and No 2 Mohammad Asif will feature in the annual spectacle. The PBSA secretary Munawwar Shaikh and Shabbir Hussain will accompany the cueists as manager and referee respectively. They will embark to Mumbai on Nov 12 on way to Hyderabad.

The PBSA president and his predecessor Asghar Valika will leave for India on Nov 16 to attend world body meeting.

Alamgir expressed his dismay that despite submitting the proposed budget to the Ministry of Sports way back, he did not receive a positive response. “The grant is insufficient and has put PBSA in a difficult position,” he remarked.

The PBSA official said he had drawn the attention of the concerned high ups in Islamabad on the matter and urged them for an enhancement.

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistani cueists will be travelling across the border after a lapse of four to five years. The last time cueists traveled to Chandigarh to feature in the reciprocal Indo-Pak Cup.