National champion Pankaj Advani [ Images ] and seven-time world champion Geet Sethi would join defending champion Devendra Joshi in the seven-member Indian team for the Asian Billiards Championship to be held in Pune from February 19 to 26.

The other members of the team are Ashok Shandilya, B Bhaskar, Sourav Kothari and Rishabh Thakkar.

Joshi received a direct entry by virtue of being the defending champion and hence India [ Images ] could field an additional player, selection committee member and Billiards and Snooker Federation of India vice president Ravi Tandon said in New Delhi [ Images ] on Wednesday.

The team was decided following a selection-cum-coaching camp held in Mumbai [ Images ], he said, adding the criteria for making the grade was the points earned by them during last month's National championship and the camp.

The four-member team for the 2005 IBSF World Billiards Championship to be held at Qawra, Malta from March 13-20 was also finalised by the committee which also comprises BSFI president P N Roy and national coach Michael Ferriera.

India would be represented in the championship by Advani (9696 points), Sethi (9604) , Joshi (8211) and Shandilya (7754).