ISLAMABAD, Sept 27: Syed Dilawar Abbas, president of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Saturday warned his affiliated units to generate activity otherwise action would be taken against them.

Speaking in a programme telecast by Pakistan Television, he said: “Although they are my voters, I take this opportunity to criticise them and ask them to organise tournaments regularly.”

Dilawar said that as the PTF head, he was concentrating on the junior players so that we could have more Aqeel Khans for the future.

Aqeel, star of Pakistan’s Davis Cup victory over South Korea this month, was also on the programme along with former Davis Cup captain Hameedul Haq.

In the programme, hosted by Mushaf Zia, Aqeel stressed that there was a need for staging more national tournaments. “Previously there were so many events being organised but now only five or six big competitions are staged each year.”

He also called on the PTF to send players to Futures and Satellite Tournaments which will do a lot of good for the sport in the country.

He also spoke about his epic win that earned Pakistan a 3-2 victory thereby ensuring that they stayed in Group I. “With the tie level 2-2, I was not under too much pressure because my senior players had given me a lot of confidence by advising me what to do exactly.”

Hameed on the other hand, a vocal critic of the previous PTF, was asked why he was not criticising the current officials. “This federation has brought all the senior players together and is benefiting from their advice.”

“The senior players are being given the respect they deserve and because of this the country’s tennis is on the up.”

He pointed out that Davis Cup victories over China and South Korea were a good enough proof that the PTF was heading in the right direction.

In comparison, Hameed said that the past PTF did not treat the players well, it violated the constitution and sent non- technical people with teams going abroad.