October 10, 2008	Friday	Shawwal 10, 1429

KARACHI, Oct 9: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Thursday announced four wildcards for the main round of first leg of the $10,000 ITF Pakistan Futures which takes place at the Islamabad’s PTF tennis complex clay courts from Oct 13.

Up and coming Jibran Mohammadi, a Pakistani-Canadian who represented the country at the Asia Oceania zone group III Davis Cup ties at Tehran earlier this year, is among those who earned the PTF’s nod.

He was recently sent to England by the federation for a four-week training programme.

He caught the eye with his performance in similar ITF Pakistan Futures held at Islamabad and Lahore last year.

The other three players include Asim Shafik, Jalil Khan and Tanveer Ashiq.

Another promising Yasir Khan, 20, the youngest of the Khan clan, who was shortlisted by the PTF as one of the probables, will be given a chance in the second leg in place of Tanveer Ashiq or Jalil Khan, PTF secretary Rashid Khan told Dawn.

Yasir accompanied Pakistan team to Chinese Taipei for the Asia Oceania zone group II Davis Cup tie as a reserve in 2006 and later made his debut against Philippines the same year.

He has returned home recently after undergoing strenuous training at Harvest Tennis Academy in the Indian Punjab.

Aqeel Khan, it may be mentioned, is the only Pakistani who has been drawn in the main round and also seeded fourth.

Meanwhile, two players from Thailand, one for the main round and another for qualifiers, have arrived in Islamabad on Thursday.