Davis Cup team went using my money: Abbas

The PTF President Dilawar Abbas has claimed that he funded the country’s recent Davis Cup trip from his own pocket.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Dilawar Abbas has claimed that he funded the country’s recent Davis Cup trip from his own pocket, and has slammed the government for snubbing sports in Pakistan.

“Sports is the best way for building a country’s image around the world,” Abbas told reporters at the Jinnah Tennis complex.

“But unfortunately our government has no interest in sports promotion. After an allocation of Rs589 million last year, they have now reduced the amount to Rs229.65 million in the new budget - which is a reduction by 60 per cent.

“The reduction is a clear cut message that sports has no priority in our country,” added Abbas who claims that the budget allocated to the PTF was never actually given and was insufficient for the federation’s  expenses.

“Unwillingly, I am forced to reveal that for our team’s Davis Cup tour,I bore all expenses  as the allocated budget for our tennis federation was inadequate even for holding a local tournament.”

“Tennis in Pakistan is not like cricket, which is the only popular sport self-sufficient in  generating its own funds, and hockey, which has survived because of generous special grants from the prime minister or some viable sponsorship deals.

“Players like Aisamul Haq and Aqeel Khan are progressing on their own as the federation was never given any financial support from the government,” added Abbas.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2010.