Pakistan to fight on after Davis Cup appeal rejected
Pakistan on Wednesday vowed to fight on after the tennis world
governing body rejected their appeal over their forfeited Davis Cup tie
against New Zealand.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) upheld the decision to
award the match played in Yangon last month to New Zealand because the
court was unplayable.
Pakistan were 1-0 up and leading in the second match when Sri Lankan
referee Ashita Ajigala stopped the match and awarded the tie to New
Zealand, as the courts were Pakistan's responsibility.
The Asia Oceania group II tie was shifted to Myanmar over security
fears in Pakistan. The ITF's Davis Cup committee rejected the appeal by
the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Tuesday, but PTF President
Kaleem Imam said the fight would go on.
"The ITF have said that the referee's decision was right but we will
take the appeal to another forum and will fight on against the injustice
done to us," Imam told AFP. "If the referee had felt the courts were not
up to the mark, why did he start the tie in the first place?" Announcing
the appeal had been rejected, the governing body said the PTF could now
take their case to the ITF board of directors. Pakistan was forced to
shift the tie to a neutral venue after the ITF declared Pakistan as
unsafe and unsuitable for an international event.
AFP
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