Security issues force Asian U-21 snooker championship to shift from Pak to Indore

Karachi, Dec.4 (ANI): Pakistan has withdrawn from hosting the Asian Under-21 Snooker and Billiards Championship citing security reasons.

The championship, which was scheduled to be held in April 2010, has now been relocated to Indore.

"We've withdrawn to play host to the event which we were supposed to stage in the first half of 2010 due to prevailing security fears," The Daily Times quoted Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) spokesperson, as saying.

"The decision was taken at the annual general meeting of the world governing body that met on the sidelines of the World Snooker Championship in the Indian city of Hyderabad on November 24," he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has jumped three spots to rank seventh in the latest world snooker rankings, one place behind India.

The top 10 nations are:

1: Thailand 2: China 3: Republic of Ireland 4: England 5: Wales : India 7: Pakistan

8: UAE 9: Belgium, and 10: Scotland (ANI)