ITF to review Davis Cup appeal

Pakistan lodge complaint after referee’s ‘bias’ causes team’s exit from Group II.

KARACHI:

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will review an appeal filed by Pakistan after the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie was awarded to New Zealand due to ‘unplayable conditions’ on Friday.

The referee awarded the tie to New Zealand, with Pakistan leading 1-0, after determining the playing conditions on the grass court at the Pun Hlaing Golf & Country Club in Yangon, Myanmar were not good enough for the match to continue. The decision was met with great hostility by Pakistan, responsible for arranging the tie in Myanmar, and the country’s tennis federation was quick to file an appeal with the ITF after terming the decision unfair and blaming the referee.

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), which spent Rs4 million on ‘hosting’ the tie  after being unable to arrange it in the country due to security concerns, filed an appeal yesterday, which the ITF said it would review tomorrow.

“The only information we can share is that we’ve received an appeal from the PTF and it will be reviewed on Monday,” an ITF official told The Express Tribune.

According to Davis Cup rules, a referee can award a tie to a visiting nation if the courts, arranged by the host nation, do not meet the specified standards. The book also states that the referee is supposed to inspect the courts before starting the tie, which comprises of two singles matches, one doubles and two reverse singles match during three days.

“The referee determined the court was fit to play, but that the court deteriorated during the first two matches. Pakistan was responsible for the condition of the court and because it was deemed unplayable the tie was awarded to New Zealand,” stated the ITF.

Shocking decision, says Aqeel

However, Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan, who gave his side the 1-0 lead after winning his singles rubber, laid the blame on the referee.

“We are shocked,” said Aqeel. “It seemed like the referee was representing the New Zealand side and not the ITF.

“Aisam and I had an aim for this year that we will ensure Pakistan’s promotion to Group I but it’s all over now. There was nothing wrong with the courts and the referee was biased. New Zealand tend to get rowdy when they are losing. The whole point of hosting the tie in Myanmar was to gain some advantage by playing on grass courts. But New Zealand didn’t cooperate.”

Meanwhile, PTF President Kaleem Imam said that the federation is looking for a rematch.

“The ITF approved these courts before the tie,” said Imam. “They inspected everything before the event. And even if the court deteriorated they could’ve been fixed but the referee never talked to us or anyone else. Our appeal would be to organise a rematch.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2013.