PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: The International Tennis Federation (ITF) upheld its decision to let Pakistan hold its Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tie against Iran in Islamabad.
Iran had appealed to the ITF to shift the tie to a neutral venue citing security concerns but the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Wednesday confirmed that the ITF has stood by its decision to let Pakistan host the tie.
“In a late night message from London, the ITF informed the PTF president that the ITF Board of Directors had upheld the decision of the Davis Cup Committee to allow the first round tie, Pakistan v Iran, in Islamabad. This was very welcome news, not only for the entire tennis fraternity, but also for other sports bodies in the country, as it would send out a positive signal for other international teams to also come to Pakistan, as witnessed recently in the case of squash and badminton,” read the PTF statement.
Aisam ‘super excited’ to be playing at home
It has been 12 years since Pakistan hosted a Davis Cup tie while they were forced to hold their Davis Cup ties on a neutral venue.
Pakistan and Iran will face each other in February. PTF President Salim Saifullah Khan said that the Pakistani players will have a chance to win the hearts of the local spectators who will finally get a chance to witness the team in action.
Davis Cup finally coming to Pakistan
Meanwhile, Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan have been confirmed to be a part of the four-member team which will face Iran.
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