Iftikhar faces PTF ban after pullout

Junior tennis player refused to play Davis Cup match.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is likely to ban the country's top-ranked junior player Samir Iftikhar for pulling out of Pakistan's Davis Cup tie last month at the last moment.

According to the PTF Vice-President Irshad Bhatti, the body had issued two show-cause notices to Iftikhar last week after he refused to play against South Korea after his name was announced for Pakistan's last match. Pakistan lost the tie 4-0 and, according to Bhatti, the player's no-show caused great embarrassment.

Iftikhar was also told to watch his attitude after he was involved in a fight with Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan.

"We'll be announcing our decision after Eid," Bhatti told The Express Tribune. "He was fine during the Davis Cup but didn't play the last match and we realised he was faking an injury."

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th,  2011.