KARACHI: Former Davis Cup captain Hameed ul Haq showed deep concern and disappointment over the Pakistan Tennis Federation’s recent decision to impose a six-month ban and a hefty fine on the country’s number one player M Shoaib.
“The tournament organisers had already taken disciplinary action at the time of the incident, and the matter was considered resolved. Reopening the case and imposing a second, harsher punishment is not only unprecedented but also a clear violation of basic principles of justice,” said Hameed.
He added that under national sports policy and general legal standards no individual should be penalized twice for the same incident. “Furthermore, PTF’s Disciplinary Committee failed to give Shoaib a fair hearing, depriving him of the opportunity to present his side of the story. This unilateral action, taken without concrete evidence and due process, raises serious ethical concerns and puts the professional future of a talented, hard-working tennis player in jeopardy,” said Hameed.
Additionally, he added, Muhammad Shoaib is currently Pakistan’s top-ranked player and a member of the official Davis Cup team when he was taken to Kazakhstan for representing Pakistan but wasn’t allowed to play any match abroad.
“This decision sent a highly demotivating message to the country’s top-performing and emerging talent, including the local tennis fraternity.
“The consequences of the PTF’s mismanagement are becoming increasingly evident. Pakistan’s women’s team has been relegated from Group 2 to Group 3 in the Billie Jean King Cup (Fed Cup) for the first time in history, while the men’s team continues to suffer defeat after defeat in the Davis Cup, barely clinging to Group 2 and knocking at the doors of Group 3, following closely in the very footsteps of the Pakistan women’s team. In the Boys U-14 Asia Oceania Qualifying held in Malaysia in April 2025, Pakistan finished 14th out of 16 teams.
“Similarly, in the recently held Junior Davis Cup Asia/Oceania qualifying event, the Pakistan team lost the last round to India 2-0 and ended up in 12th position out of 16 teams. These results underline the alarming decline of grassroots development and international competitiveness under the current administration,” said Hameed.
In addition, he added, senior and experienced tennis coaches are being let go in favor of blue-eyed, low-performing staffers who lack the qualifications and expertise needed to contribute meaningfully to the sport.
“Such appointments are emblematic of a broader culture of favoritism and mismanagement that continues to weaken the foundations of tennis in Pakistan. “These situations are obvious examples of the ongoing mishandling of tennis affairs by the current PTF regime. The current management lacks both the will and the competence to put the game back on track. They have damaged tennis to a degree that any recovery will take decades,” said Hameed.
He added that the founding spirit of any national sports body should be: “Of the players, by the players, and for the players.” “Unfortunately, the current administration has consistently failed to uphold this principle through mismanaging conflicts, alienating top talent, and turning every challenge into a crisis.
“It is time to reform the governance of tennis in Pakistan, restore transparency, and put the players first. The future of tennis in our country depends on fair play, both on and off the court,” reasoned Hameed.
