ITF dismisses Pakistan’s Davis Cup appeal

KARACHI: The International Tennis Federation has rejected an appeal by Pakistan to host its Davis Cup tie against Lebanon next year, the Pakistan Tennis Federation has said.

“We had filed an appeal against the decision to move the tie and we assured full security arrangements for the visiting team,” PTF secretary Mumtaz Yousuf said of the

Asia/Oceania Group Two tie that is scheduled for Feb 10-12. “But the ITF has rejected our appeal.”

The tie was originally supposed to be in Lahore and while Lebanon had said they were prepared to play in Pakistan, the ITF moved the tie to Lebanon because of security concerns.

Pakistan have not held a Davis Cup tie at home since 2005 because of security issues, though Mumtaz said the ITF had promised to investigate the possibility of allowing the country to choose a neutral venue for future ‘home’ ties.

“At least that is something positive,” he added.

“We are disappointed at not being able to host international tennis in Pakistan.”

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Wapda, Balochistan outclass opponents

Defending champions Wapda and Balochistan outclassed Sindh and Khyber Pakhtun Khwa, respectively to win their matches on the second day of the 19th National Baseball Championship at the Iqbal Park Sports Complex on Friday.

Three runs each by Usman Butt, Sumair Zawar, Adnan Butt, M Asif and M Zubair helped Wapda to crush Sindh by a big margin of 16-1.

Sindh could score its lone run in the first innings through Nadeem Zaheer, in which Wapda had scored three runs through Usman Butt, Sumair and Asif. Wapda were on the offensive in the second innings scoring 10 runs without conceding any run as their Usman, Sumair, Asif, Akhlaq Ahmad and Zubair added two runs each. In the third innings Wapda scored three more runs as their Adnan added two more and Abu Baker one to complete the tally.

In the second match, Balochistan earned a facile 17-1 win against KPK.

Balochistan had made a fine start of taking 3-0 lead with Majeed, Arsalan and Asif scoring one run each against none from the rivals. In the second innings, Balochistan added three more through Majeed, Arslan and Asim and they had made a big difference in the third innings by adding 11 runs with Nisar, Aslam, Nur Ahmad chipping in with two runs each and Abdul Samad, Majeed, Arslan, Usman and Sami contributing one run apiece. KPK could earn the lone run through Irfan in the third innings.

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KRL clinch PPFL trophy

KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) lifted the eighth Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) title at the Jinnah Football Stadium in Islamabad on Thursday.

This was KRL’s second title of 2011, the other being the National Challenge Cup-2011.

In the PPFL, they finished their campaign with 77 points from 30 matches while Afghan FC Chaman and Army finished second and third, respectively, with 57 points each.

Afghan FC Chaman was declared second on a better goal average.

Wapda secured fourth place with 52 points while KESC (51 points) finished fifth, Muslim FC Chaman (51 points) finished sixth, followed by PIA (49 points), NBP (45 points) and HBL (both 40 points) taking the seventh, eighth and ninth places, respectively.

Navy finished 10th as PAF, KPT, Baloch FC Noushki and PMC Athletico FC ended up 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th, respectively.

Ambassador, High Commission of Argentina Rodolfo J. Martin-Saravia, Senator Abdul Rahim Mandokhail and PFF Secretary Col (retd) Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi were the chief guests at the concluding match.

They presented cash awards and trophies to the teams and players. KRL lifted the winning trophy and gold medals in addition to Rs700,000 while Afghan FC Chaman received silver medals and Rs500,000. Army had to remain content with bronze medals and Rs400,000.

Having scored 22 goals, Afghan FC captain and striker Jadeed Khan got the Golden Boot prize of Rs100, 000, Jafar Khan of Army was declared the best goalkeeper of the league to also pocket Rs100, 000 while KRL’s Samar Ishaq, best player of the league, got Rs150, 000.

PIA lifted the Fair Play trophy along with Rs100,000. Meanwhile, the best referee of the league, Waheed Murad, was also awarded Rs100,000 while the best assistant referee, Adnan Anjum, got Rs50,000 with the best match commissioner of the league, Mohammad Zaman Khan from the Islamabad/Rawalpindi Centre, walking away with Rs100,000.

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