Aisam confident ahead of Davis Cup tie

Pakistan tennis ace remains confident of beating Hong Kong after being fully prepared for the tournament.

LAHORE:

Aisamul Haq Qureshi is confident ahead of the team’s Davis Cup tie against Hong Kong, insisting the tourists will have no trouble getting past the hosts as they are fully prepared for the challenge.

“I am sure we will beat them,” Qureshi told The Express Tribune from Hong Kong. “I expect a tough contest but we are fully prepared to take on the challenge.”

Pakistan’s four-man squad for the Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tie comprises Qureshi and Aqeel Khan, who will represent the nation as its top players, while emerging star Samir Iftikhar looks to make his Davis Cup debut along with Yasir Khan, Pakistan’s fourth player for the event. The ties will be played outdoors on a hard surface in Victoria Park.

“We’re going to go in with myself and Aqeel for the first two days. No doubt both youngsters are capable and are talented enough to make an impact but you just can’t push them onto the international arena all of a sudden.

“They will get their chance to play after we decide what the team needs on the third day.”

The two nations have met on four previous occasions with both winning two each. Pakistan, however, will go into the match having won the last two meetings. They suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat away to New Zealand in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group II second round last July. The visitors led 2-1 going into the final day’s play, but New Zealand won both singles rubbers on Sunday to clinch the win.

Pakistan non-playing captain Mushaf Zia is also confident given Pakistan’s recent record against the opponents and is looking forward to advancing to the next round that will be played in July.

“It’s premature to comment on what will happen but my expectations are very high from the team and I firmly believe that we’ll be able to repeat our past performance.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2011.