Visa denial derails Pakistan's title defense at Asia Youth Cup Scrabble Championship in India

Defending champion Pakistan was not able to participate in the Asia Youth Cup Scrabble Championship after majority of its players were denied visas by India.

The Asia Cup Youth Scrabble Championships 2024 commenced on Sunday at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra in New Delhi, India. However, only eight Pakistani players received clearance for the event. Notably, 12 other players were denied visas without explanation, sparking concerns over unfair treatment.

Pakistan Scrabble Association Director Tariq Pervaiz expressed profound disappointment as the country's team, reigning world and Asian youth Scrabble champions, faces uncertainty in defending their Asian title.

"The Indian High Commission's deliberate delay tactics has dashed Pakistan's scrabble team's championship hopes. Despite submitting documents two months prior, visas were withheld until the eleventh hour, with some issued too late for players to participate," he lamented.

Tariq Pervaiz expressed deep disappointment, stating, "Pakistan was shocked and dismayed by India's unexpected visa denial for most of our youth scrabble players, jeopardizing their participation in the Asia Cup Youth Scrabble Championship and Delhi Cup."

Despite organizers securing all necessary clearances, Pakistan team's travel preparations were in vain. Having traveled to Lahore anticipating visa approval, players will now return to Karachi bitterly disappointed.

Pakistani scrabble star Hisham Hadi Khan became the first Asian Champion in 2022 after beating India's Madhav Gopal Kamath.

This isn't the first time India has denied visas to Pakistani players. Recently, India deny Pakistani team visas for Asian Netball Championship. Meanwhile, three Pakistan cueists, Ahsan Ramzan, Muhammad Hasnain and Muhmmad Hamza Illyas were forced to pull out of the IBSF World Junior Snooker Championships after their NOCs from the ministry of external affairs arrived just 48 hours before the start of the tournament. The delay forced the trio and four officials to withdraw from the week-long event in Bengaluru.

India had also granted visas to Pakistan's cricket team for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 after lengthy delays. The delayed clearance disrupted Pakistan's tournament preparations, prompting the cancellation of their Dubai training camp ahead of the tournament.