Pakistan given free-of-cost venue by Sri Lanka

Hosts to take on Kuwait in three-day tie from Friday in Colombo

KARACHI: In an unexpected and welcome gesture, the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) has decided against charging any fee to the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), who will be holding their three-day Davis Cup tie against Kuwait in Colombo, starting Friday.

The development is positive news for Pakistan, who endured a bitter campaign in Myanmar two years back against New Zealand, where the referee declared the second-round tie in the visitors’ favour due to “unplayable court conditions” in Yangon — a neutral venue chosen by the PTF.

According to PTF secretary Khalid Rehmani, the SLTA has been holding International Tennis Federation (ITF) events for a long time and has now extended a helping hand to Pakistan for their Asia-Oceania Group II round one tie.

“It’s a great gesture from SLTA President Iqbal Ishaq,” Rehmani told The Express Tribune. “They aren’t charging us for the venue at all. I’m grateful to them as they have always assisted us.”

Rehmani further said that even before the Davis Cup agreement, the SLTA has been supportive of Pakistani players. “They have also invited our top player Aqeel Khan time and again to coach, play and practice in Colombo with our top-tier players.”

PTF official Arif Qureshi went to Colombo last week to inspect the arrangements and said he was satisfied. “The SLTA is providing the best available facilities for the tie. They know the requirements of ITF events, so we’re good to go,” he said.

Qureshi added that the Pakistan-Kuwait clash will field an Italian referee.

Both teams will play two singles matches on day one, a doubles rubber on day two and reverse singles on the last day.

Pakistan will have Aqeel and Aisamul Haq Qureshi as their key players, while Ahmed Chaudhry and US-based Abid Ali Akbar will be making their Davis Cup debut.

 

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