ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has been denying just reward to players for winning the Davis Cup ties held here in recent times, despite receiving hefty “win bonuses” from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The PTF, which after the PCB, football, hockey and squash federations, is considered as the most financially sound parent body, having received a whopping sum of over Rs60 million from the federal government during the last 15 months.

Besides that, it also received funds for holding Davis Cup ties and owing to victory of Pakistan teams, it received “winning bonuses” from the ITF as well during the last three years which collectively amount to US dollars 300,000 Dawn has learnt.

Sources said that since the year 2015 to date, Pakistan has participated in several Davis Cup ties, including three home ties which were played in Pakistan against Iran, a walkover against Hong Kong and the final of Group II where Pakistan last year outclassed Iran. Besides, recently in a Group I tie, Pakistan pulled off a major upset by stunning Asian powerhouse South Korea.

Sources said that players were given nothing, either from the federation or the federal government for the successful run of victories. However, the sources said that after winning the Group II final, Rs 100,000 each had been distributed among the Davis Cup team last year by the federation.

During the investigation conducted by Dawn, it was also noted that almost all successive federations didn’t give “wining bonus” to players. However, during Pervez Musharraf regime, when Syed Dilawar Abbas was president of PTF, the players were regularly getting handsome reward money for wining Davis Cup.

“We used to receive good amount of reward money for winning Davis Cup matches,” said a tennis players, who requested not to be named. He said that winning bonus should not be used for any other purpose and it should be given to players only.

Pakistan’s tennis, under the supervision of PTF president Salim Saifullah Khan, during the last few years, has witnessed a significant improvement, as Pakistan last year defeated Iran and Thailand in Asia-Oceana Group II ties of Davis Cup while this year in the first round of Group I, Pakistan defeated a strong South Korean team to move into the next round which is going to be held here in Islamabad against Uzbekistan from April 6.

“We won several ties under the dynamic leadership of Salim Saifullah whereas many local tournaments were also organised during the last three years, but we fail to understand why the PTF, which is in a sound financial position, is not distributing the winning bonuses among the players, ” said a former Davis Cupper.

However, sources said that federation regularly paid US $2000 to Aisam-ul-Haq and $1000 to Aqeel Khan for participating in Davis Cup matches as “appearance money.”

He said that unfortunately after receiving such huge grants from the Government and ITF as well as other sponsors, the PTF has not shared players have not received any incentive or bonus from the PTF. “The victory against Korea is a huge win record after 13 years, at least, the team should be given reward from wining bonus,” the former Davis Cupper said.

Sources in the PTF said that the federation received a whopping Rs50 million in February 2017, and annual grant of Rs1.5 million in March 2017, whereas another special grant of rupees one million was given to federation by government/PSB in September 2017.

Meanwhile, in November 2017, Rs10 million were given to the PTF by the government, and recently in February this year, a further rupees eight lacswere dished out to the federation by the PSB.

Grants paid to the PTF by the International Tennis Federation (ITF):

a) February 2017 — Davis Cup Round 1 against IRAN (Group II) PILA (Payment in lieu of Advertisement) US$18,529 + Winning Bonus US $7866 (Total US$ 26395)

b) April 2017 — Davis Cup Round 2 walkover against Hong Kong (Group II) + Winning Bonus US$ 9804c) September 2017 — Davis Cup Round 3 against Thailand (Group II) PILA US $ 33,242 + Winning Bonus US $ 12,663 (Total US $ 45,905)

d) February 2018 — Davis Cup Round 1 against South Korea (Group I) PILA US $ 30,202 + Winning Bonus US $ 10,423 (Total US $ 40,625)

e) To be played in April 2018 — Davis Cup Round 2 against Uzbekistan (Group II) PILA US $36,559 + Winning Bonus (US $12,335) Losing Bonus (US$6409).

Speaking to Dawn, President PTF Salim Saifullah Khan confirmed that Davis Cup winning bonuses have not been distributed among the players as yet. However, he said that big money is being spent on organising the Davis Cup ties. He said that federation also pays appearance money to Aisam and Aqeel for their participation in Davis Cup ties.

“Now, we have increased their appearance money, Aisam will get 3000 US dollars and Aqeel will get Rs 200,000 for participating in Davis Cup ties,” he disclosed.

The president PTF also said that if the federation received over 60 million in funding from the government, it also had to bear huge expenses in manner of overseas tours of Pakistan teams and arrangement for the Davis Cup ties at home.

“Currently, Junior Davis Cup team is playing in Sri Lanka, whereas, in the coming months, we are going to send promising young player Muzammil Murtaza to Turkey for nearly a month’s training,” he said.

Salim further said that from the total amount of funds received from the government, the PTF has deposited Rs50 million in banks from where it receives interest/profit to run the affairs of tennis federation. “We are also focusing on juniors and promotion of tennis at the grassroot level,” he added.

On a concluding note, Salim Saifullah said that the PTF is in regularcontact with the federal government and soon the Davis Cup winning team will get reward money from the government for the handsome win against South Korea. “I think, one million each will be given to Aisam and Aqeel while other junior players will be rewarded with Rs500,000 each,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018