Pakistan were disqualified after referee ruled that the grass court in Yangon had become unplayable and dangerous. PHOTO: FILE
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have rejected Pakistan's appeal against the awarding of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie to New Zealand, the governing body said on Wednesday.
Designated hosts Pakistan were disqualified from last month's Davis Cup tie, played in Myanmar because of security concerns, after referee Ashita Ajigala ruled that the grass court in Yangon had become unplayable and dangerous.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) appealed against the ruling but the ITF's Davis Cup Committee upheld the Sri Lankan referee's decision at a meeting on Tuesday.
"It was the view of the Committee that the Pakistan Tennis Federation did not organise the tie to the required standards, notably with regard to the quality of the two available courts," the ITF said in a statement.
The tie was played in Myanmar after New Zealand refused to visit Pakistan due to safety concerns.
"The Committee noted that the poor quality of the original match court led the Referee to designate the practice court as the match court," the ITF statement read.
"Following the deterioration of the second court, specifically during the second match, the Referee determined that this court was now unplayable and a risk to player safety.
"The Referee also deemed that the court would not become playable in the next 24 hours due to its poor condition, and awarded the tie to New Zealand."
The PTF could still appeal to the ITF Board of Directors, the statement added.
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@Moosa Khan: FYI, the article states that match referee was from Sri Lanka, please read article before commenting. "The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) appealed against the ruling but the ITF’s Davis Cup Committee upheld the Sri Lankan referee’s decision at a meeting on Tuesday."
Why not just cancel the results and rematch? Well, what else can be expected from an indian referee and a cry baby new zees.. just like aussies in cricket.
The location was apparently touted by Aisam's father who is an advisor to the PTF. Someone should ask the PTF head and Aisam's father how did they mess up so badly.
Heads should roll at the PTF for this fiasco. Who chose Burma instead of say Dubai and why ? How ironic that security was also a concern apart from court condition. I thought security was the reason match was played in Burma.
Given how Burmese government is handling riots against Muslims, how did the Foreign Ministry give an NOC for this ?
I mean seriously, despite an army of bureaucrats, don't these people do anything apart from reading newspaper and drinking tea ?