KARACHI, May 11: Formation of Pakistan Tennis Welfare Trust (PTWT), a body to provide monetary relief to poor and needy players, is in the offing and will be formally launched soon, it emerged on Saturday.

The idea is the brainchild of Davis Cupper Aqeel Khan, who is the first individual in the country as far as the game is concerned, to have come forward to serve the humanity.

“Allah has blessed me with everything, including wealth, and now its time to repay the debt,” the country’s top player told Dawn.

He said the idea was conceived when a veteran player from Peshawar approached him during camp in Islamabad recently and asked for some monetary help to meet expenses.

Disclosing salient features, he said the PTWT which will have representation from all over the country will raise enough funds for the cause. After identifying credentials of desiring players, the committee will fix monthly stipends, he added.

He added that besides him and sibling Jalil from Karachi, the PTWT will have ex-Davis Cupper M. Khalid from Lahore and a representative each from Islamabad and Peshawar.

Aqeel said soon after its launch, the body will be registered and may get the nod from the Pakistan Tennis Federation.

He felt sorry that a number of reputed footballers and boxers of the yore have sold their trophies and medals to overcome their financial miseries. It’s a severe blow and need to be addressed, he added.