India best option for neutral venue: Aqeel
Pakistan’s deadline to choose host country extended till Dec 24
China are ahead of Pakistan with a 4-1 in head-to-head record. The only time Pakistan won was back in 2002, when their tie was played on the Peshawar Club grasscourts. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Aqeel Khan, the country’s most experienced player and Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Davis Cup committee member, believes India would be their best bet as a neutral venue for the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group I tie against China in March.
Since the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has conveyed its reservations with Pakistan hosting the tie in Lahore, the committee has opted for a neutral venue.
According to Aqeel, playing in China is not on the cards and the ITF has disappointed Pakistan once again by not considering it a safe venue to host matches. A slim chance of playing at home is still hovering in the air if their opponents themselves agree to tour Pakistan.
Pursuing diplomatic channels: Pakistan’s Davis Cup deadline almost over
“It’s a letdown yet again if China don’t come,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune. “But if we have to go to a neutral venue, then India suits us best. If we go to Delhi or Chandigarh then the weather conditions and the grasscourts are the same as the ones in Lahore — playing on grasscourts is our strength.”
PTF secretary Khalid Rehmani said that the ITF deadline to decide whether Pakistan would choose to go to China or agree to play at a neutral venue has been extended till December 24. “We’ve decided that instead of going to China, we’ll look for options in India, Bangladesh or Australia. We’ve consulted our committee and the members have agreed,” said Rehmani.
He added that the PTF will further request the Chinese federation to consider coming to Pakistan.
Davis Cup Group I: Light at the end of the tunnel for Pakistan
Pakistan last played against China in September 2006 on the hardcourts of the Beijing International Tennis Centre, where they were thrashed 5-0 in the semi-final and were subsequently relegated to Group II.
China are ahead of Pakistan with a 4-1 in head-to-head record. The only time Pakistan won was back in 2002, when their tie was played on the Peshawar Club grasscourts.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2015.
Aqeel Khan, the country’s most experienced player and Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Davis Cup committee member, believes India would be their best bet as a neutral venue for the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group I tie against China in March.
Since the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has conveyed its reservations with Pakistan hosting the tie in Lahore, the committee has opted for a neutral venue.
According to Aqeel, playing in China is not on the cards and the ITF has disappointed Pakistan once again by not considering it a safe venue to host matches. A slim chance of playing at home is still hovering in the air if their opponents themselves agree to tour Pakistan.
Pursuing diplomatic channels: Pakistan’s Davis Cup deadline almost over
“It’s a letdown yet again if China don’t come,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune. “But if we have to go to a neutral venue, then India suits us best. If we go to Delhi or Chandigarh then the weather conditions and the grasscourts are the same as the ones in Lahore — playing on grasscourts is our strength.”
PTF secretary Khalid Rehmani said that the ITF deadline to decide whether Pakistan would choose to go to China or agree to play at a neutral venue has been extended till December 24. “We’ve decided that instead of going to China, we’ll look for options in India, Bangladesh or Australia. We’ve consulted our committee and the members have agreed,” said Rehmani.
He added that the PTF will further request the Chinese federation to consider coming to Pakistan.
Davis Cup Group I: Light at the end of the tunnel for Pakistan
Pakistan last played against China in September 2006 on the hardcourts of the Beijing International Tennis Centre, where they were thrashed 5-0 in the semi-final and were subsequently relegated to Group II.
China are ahead of Pakistan with a 4-1 in head-to-head record. The only time Pakistan won was back in 2002, when their tie was played on the Peshawar Club grasscourts.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2015.