Selector lashes out at PTF
Haq criticises tennis body for delaying Davis Cup camp.
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) selector Hamidul Haq criticised the body for delaying the training camp with the Davis Cup tie against Hong Kong from March 4.
“The PTF is busy in purposeless trial matches,” said Haq. “The players who are participating in these trials will neither make it to the team nor play the Davis Cup tie. Apparently, the PTF just seems to be waiting for the arrival of Australia-based Rameez Junaid to make the team.”
The selector said the arrival of Junaid can only help the team if the player displayed his skills before the match.
“The only recourse in this situation is to have Aqeel Khan play a best-of-five-set match against Junaid to determine who is the best player after Aisamul Haq Qureshi so that the captain is clear.”
He added that since Aisam had not participated in a singles tournament for a year and Aqeel is under prepared, the camp should have featured these players. Haq also expressed his surprise oover PTF’s decision to pay $10,000 per tie to Junaid whose skills were more or less equal to Aqeel.
“The PTF has paid for an expensive air ticket for Samir Iftikhar but did not bother to give one to Pakistan number two Jalil Khan,” said Haq. “This is clearly because major decisions are made by those who have no tennis background and who are not bothered to seek proper advice from experienced coaches and Davis Cup players.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2011.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) selector Hamidul Haq criticised the body for delaying the training camp with the Davis Cup tie against Hong Kong from March 4.
“The PTF is busy in purposeless trial matches,” said Haq. “The players who are participating in these trials will neither make it to the team nor play the Davis Cup tie. Apparently, the PTF just seems to be waiting for the arrival of Australia-based Rameez Junaid to make the team.”
The selector said the arrival of Junaid can only help the team if the player displayed his skills before the match.
“The only recourse in this situation is to have Aqeel Khan play a best-of-five-set match against Junaid to determine who is the best player after Aisamul Haq Qureshi so that the captain is clear.”
He added that since Aisam had not participated in a singles tournament for a year and Aqeel is under prepared, the camp should have featured these players. Haq also expressed his surprise oover PTF’s decision to pay $10,000 per tie to Junaid whose skills were more or less equal to Aqeel.
“The PTF has paid for an expensive air ticket for Samir Iftikhar but did not bother to give one to Pakistan number two Jalil Khan,” said Haq. “This is clearly because major decisions are made by those who have no tennis background and who are not bothered to seek proper advice from experienced coaches and Davis Cup players.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2011.