Pakistan’s premier cueist, Asjad Iqbal, delivered a commanding performance on Tuesday, sweeping aside India’s legendary Pankaj Advani with a decisive 4-0 victory. The win in the World Cup of Snooker quarter-finals at Muscat’s Active Oman Sports and Entertainment Hub propels Iqbal into the tournament’s final four.
Iqbal began the knockout tie in blistering form, constructing a superb break of 81 to secure the opening frame 100-0. Although Advani offered resistance in the second frame with a 37-point contribution, the Pakistani player responded with a dominant 92-break to extend his lead.
Maintaining relentless pressure, Iqbal registered another 50-plus break (68) to effortlessly claim the third frame 117-16. He sealed the comprehensive victory by winning the decisive fourth frame 83-21, denying Advani any opportunity for a comeback.
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This impressive win follows Iqbal’s earlier 3-0 triumph over another Indian opponent, Hussain Khan, in the round of 32. He now advances to face France’s Nicolas Mortreux in the semi-finals.
Following the match, the two players showed notable sportsmanship, shaking hands and exchanging a hug. This gesture stood in contrast to recent controversies in cricket between the two nations, where post-match handshakes have been avoided.
The act was particularly significant given the recent politicisation of sports between the arch-rivals, which first emerged during the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and continued into the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 and the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, where captains from both sides skipped the customary handshake.
