‘Disappointed with ITF’s decision’

Pakistan tennis players bemoan rejection of Davis Cup re-match appeal.

KARACHI: Pakistan players expressed disappointment with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Board of Directors, who rejected their appeal for the re-match of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania zone Group II tie against New Zealand.

Pakistan hosted the tie in Myanmar in April, however, the ITF referee declared the grass court conditions as ‘unplayable’ and awarded the tie to New Zealand 4-1.

Pakistan were leading the tie 1-0 with Aisamul Haq Qureshi playing his singles match when the Sri Lankan referee Asitha Attyagalla decided to award the tie to New Zealand, saying that the Pakistan Tennis Federation  failed to provide a good quality grass court.

Aqeel Khan, who won the first match against the New Zealand top seed, said the ITF Board of Directors should have shown more understanding.

“It’s disappointing because we were winning and this just seems unfair,” Khan told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2013.