KARACHI, PAKISTAN - A top Pakistani tennis player has been asked by the country's tennis federation to explain why he teamed up with an Israeli in the men's doubles at Wimbledon. <br>
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Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, a Muslim, joined Amir Hadad, an Israeli Jew, in the Wimbledon qualifying tournament in doubles and won two rounds before getting into the main draw. <br>
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Syed Dilawar Abbas, president of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, said Tuesday he had written to Qureshi demanding an explanation for his decision to play with an Israeli. <br>
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``We hope and expect that he would not repeat this mistake in future,'' Abbas said. <br>
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Abbas said Haq had not obtained permission from the Pakistan Tennis Federation for pairing with an Israeli player. <br>
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After they were eliminated from Wimbledon in the third round Monday, Qureshi and Hadad said they had teamed up because they knew each other and respected each other's tennis ability. <br>
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``I never thought it was going to become such a big thing,'' Qureshi said. ``We're not here to change anything: politicians and governments do that.'' <br>
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The two, who have known each other for two or three years from playing lower-tier Challenger events, may team up again for the U.S. Open. <br>
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``It's the first time I've made it to the main draw of a Grand Slam - with him,'' Qureshi said. ``I wouldn't mind, for sure. I don't like to interfere religion or politics into sport.'' <br>
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Hadad agreed. <br>
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``We are good friends, and I think we're going to keep playing together in the future,'' he said. <br>
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Qureshi said he has played with an Israeli partner before - ``in smaller events, Futures and stuff. I know all the Israelis on the tour.''