KARACHI: Visa issues have forced Pakistan Scrabble Association to curtail its contingent for this month’s World Scrabble Championship in the USA.
An association official has confirmed that Pakistan will be represented by a 6-men team in the championship which is scheduled to be played in Las Vegas from July 22 to 25.
“Four of Pakistan’s top players are unable to participate as their visa could not be issued on time,” Tariq Parvez — a top official of the Pakistan Scrabble Association confirmed to Geo News.
The players include Daniyal Sannaullah, Sohaib Sannaullah, Rashid Khan and Ali Rashid.
Tariq confirmed that these players couldn’t get an earlier date for visa interviews from the US consulate and were offered dates from the year 2024.
Tariq Parvez, who is vice president of PSA, will be the team leader during the championship. Pakistan No 1 Waseem Khatri, Mohammad Inayatullah, Hassan Hadi Khan, Hammad Hadi Khan and Hisham Hadi Khan are other members of the Pakistani contingent.
Pakistan also had to withdraw from the two reserved seats it got for this championship. These seats were offered to Syed Imad Ali and Ali Salman —the youth scrabble championship winners of years 2021 and 2022.
Tariq Parvez confirmed that these players couldn’t participate in the championship due to their “tough schedule of studies.”.
He confirmed that the Pakistan squad will leave for the USA on July 18.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.