Top-seed Muhammad Sajjad will lead Pakistan's charge at the championship —File photo by APP

KARACHI: Pakistan is all set to participate in the Asian Snooker Championship after its squad received a visa clearance from the Indian authorities on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s four-member squad will leave for Indore on Thursday, to participate in the 27th Asian Snooker Championship, which will be held from April 23 to 30.

The squad includes top national players Muhammad Sajjad, Imran Shahzad and Muhammad Shahid Aftab – all of whom participated in a bilateral snooker series in Iran.

Sajjad, who was the runner-up at last year’s edition of the championship, has been nominated as the top seed for the Indore event.

Former Pakistani world championship runner-up Saleh Muhammad will be representing Afghanistan in the event.

Meanwhile, Shabbir Ahmed Daruwala, who has been invited by Asian Confederation of Billiards Sport (ACBS) as match referee will accompany the team and also act as its manager.

The players underwent a training regimen in Islamabad before arriving in Karachi to leave for the tournament.

The Rs.350,000-worth tournament will host 44 cueists from 19 countries, including six from hosts India.