May 8, 2002	Wednesday	Safar 24, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 7: The Pakistan Under-14 team that competed in the World Junior Tennis competition (Asia Oceania Zone Qualifying Round) in Colombo finished a poor 10th.

The team comprising Omar Babar, Danish Ahmed and Tanvir Ashiq returned home Monday after a disappointing tour but Arif Qureshi, the team manager was quick to defend their performance.

“Last time we took 14th place so considering that we have put up an improved show,” he told Dawn.

Pakistan were bracketed in Group 4 along with China, New Zealand, and Thailand and were fourth in the group after losing their matches except for the game against the Kiwis which could not be completed because of rain. Pakistan’s matches in the knockout competition later also couldn’t be held for the same reasons, Arif said.

The 15 teams in the tournament were divided into four groups with India emerging the eventual winners after blanking Australia 3-0 both in the league and the knockout rounds. Other three teams to qualify along with India were Korea, China and Australia.

Meanwhile Arif dismissed criticism of his appointment as manager from certain quarters that claimed he had never played tennis. “Had I not gone with the team, we would have finished at the bottom,” said Arif who is an International Tennis Federation’s White Badge umpire. “I know what the sport is all about having been Pakistan Universities and Punjab University champion,” he pointed out. “It is absolutely wrong to say that I have never played tennis.”

Among others criticising Arif, who is an accountant by profession, was Munir Pirzada, a former secretary of the Pakistan Tennis Federation. In a letter written to the head of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Brig. Saulat Abbas, he has asked him if he had ever heard of an accountant being appointed as the manager of a cricket or the hockey team while claiming that Arif has never played tennis.”

“I understand that all the national teams are sent abroad with the approval of the PSB. Perhaps the board is not authorised to check who is who in the teams going out of Pakistan. No wonder so many of our athletes have disappeared while on a foreign trip,” Munir said in the letter.