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| April 14, 2006 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427 |
Tennis: Controversy spoils opening day trials
ISLAMABAD, April 13: Controversy marred the first day of the Under-16 Junior Davis Cup trials that began at the substandard Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) courts as a top player claimed he had wrongly been left out.
Pakistan junior No. 3 Umar Babar was left shattered on the morning of the trials when he was told that he could not take part for being over-age.
Umar pointed out that there were at least three players who were allowed to compete despite being his age.
While the players were trying to come to terms with the PTF's decision to hold the trials on the PSB courts which are said to be the worst in the country, they were in for more shocks as play began.
On what was a fairly hot day, the boys were made to play three to four matches on a surface that had cracks, was slippery and produced uneven bounce.
To make matters worse, no water was made available at the courts and there were no chairs for players for change-over and only one ball boy was deputed for each court.
These being the national trials, much was expected from the PTF but no official of the federation had time enough to be there.
The players coming from other cities complained that no boarding or lodging was being provided to them by the PTF.
Such was the callousness of the tennis managers that they did not even bother to make arrangements for boys' lunch.
The selection trials are for a tournament in Malaysia next month.
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