KARACHI, Oct 21: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) received second good news in a fortnight after Pakistan Sports Trust (PST) came to its rescue to finance the national team’s trip to the coming IBSF World Snooker Championship in Austria.

“Yes the PST has released Rs0.6 millions to cash starved PBSA on a short notice for meeting the air fare and local hospitality,” an elated PBSA president, Alamgir Shaikh, told Dawn on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s participation in the Austrian event was in doldrums due to lack of sufficient funds in the absence of regular sponsorship for the baize game. The PBSA has never skipped the annual world and Asian championships in the last two decades.

Two players namely Saleh Mohammad and Khurram Agha will represent the country in the world meet. They will be accompanied by a manager and a delegate.

The PBSA has already applied for visas and was expecting to get them by Oct 25. The team is scheduled to fly to Austria by Qatar Airways the next day.

Meanwhile, the PBSA executive committee has expressed their gratitude to the PST, headed by General (retired) Syed Arif Hasan, for providing timely financial assistance.