Referee ‘gifts’ Davis Cup tie to NZ

Pakistan players, management distraught with decision.

KARACHI:

In a bizarre turn of events, the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie was awarded to New Zealand despite Pakistan leading the contest in Myanmar, ending the country’s hopes of making it to Group I for another year.

The Sri Lankan referee awarded the tie to New Zealand, citing ‘unplayable court conditions’, during the second match that was being contested between Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Daniel King-Turner at the Pun Hlaing Golf & Country Club in Yangon. Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan had earlier prevailed over New Zealand’s top player Artem Sitak 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the first singles match to give his side a 1-0 lead.

With Aisam leading the rubber 6-2, 3-6, 3-0, the referee noticed an unplayable patch and halted the game. Minutes later, the tie was declared in favour of New Zealand 4-1, a decision that was met by great hostility and protest by the Pakistan players and management.

‘Biased decision’

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), which voiced extreme disgust at the decision, said the development was ‘disastrous and wrong on many levels’.



PTF President Kaleem Imam, who was apprised of the situation by two officials in Myanmar, was left a disappointed man.

“It’s a disaster,” Imam told The Express Tribune. “We did everything we could. We didn’t have enough funds but we managed to hold the tie in Myanmar so that the team could gain the ‘home’ advantage it was entitled to.

“The decision is unfair and it feels like the referee has gifted the tie to New Zealand. He told us that there were some covers missing on the court two days before the tie and we fulfilled that requirement too and he approved of the court.

“Our question is that if the first match of the day, which Aqeel won, can take place then why did the referee have issues with the court during the second match?. Declaring the entire tie in New Zealand’s favour is just wrong.”

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) confirmed the tie was awarded to New Zealand due to ‘unplayable playing conditions’. “So far, we have only received information that the courts were unplayable and therefore the tie was awarded to New Zealand,” said the ITF official.

The tie, which was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan, was shifted to Myanmar in the wake of New Zealand players’ concerns on the security situation in the country. The venue was chosen by the Pakistan management – over Dubai and India – due to the presence of grass courts in Yangon, a surface favoured by the country’s tennis players.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the drama, with PTF officials Shahzad Alvi and Arif Qureshi protesting against the decision, New Zealand were quick to send their players back to the team hotel.

The development also meant that Pakistan lost the first tie it arranged in six years. The ITF gave its approval to the PTF on arranging the tie instead of Pakistan playing it on their opponents’ turf which has been the case since players are reluctant to visit the country.

PTF to protest

According to Imam, the PTF has lodged a complaint over the decision, one which not only caused a monetary loss to Pakistan but also disturbed the players ‘mentally and emotionally’.

“Our players are disheartened,” said Imam. “The tie was within our grasp. Arranging Rs4 million to host the tie wasn’t easy. We are going to demand an investigation. The ITF should send experts to Yangon and review this decision.”

According to Pakistan officials, the referee who was conducting the tie had no grass-court experience and was, therefore, not in a good position to judge the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2013.