I’m ready to step down: Aisam

Pakistani pair of Aisam and Aqeel suffered Pakistan's worst Davis Cup loss in 33 years losing 4-0 to South Korea.

LAHORE:

Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi is “ready to step down” if anyone in the country is “fully prepared to step up” to take his place, according to the tennis star.

Aisam’s comments came in the aftermath of Pakistan’s humiliating run last week at the Davis Cup. Pakistan registered their worst defeat in 33 years against South Korea in their Asia/Oceania Group II tie losing 4-0 as Aisam and Aqeel Khan lost their doubles match against Kim Young-Jun and Lim Yong-Kyu in a five-setter.

Pakistan on the final day had also tested talented youngster Yasir Khan — who underwent a humiliating defeat, losing 6-0, 6-0 against Young-Jun. The shocking defeat finished all hopes of Pakistan being promoted to Group I.

Aisam accepted that his team had an abysmal run in Korea and he presented no excuses to defend the defeat.

Taking full responsibility the tennis star said: “I am ready to step down if anyone in the country is fully prepared to replace me at the level I am playing at”.

Talking to reporters upon his arrival at the Lahore airport, Aisam said: “I think I am doing fairly good playing the doubles ties and I’m improving my ranking as well. But playing the singles ties — it’s an obligation, which I might carry on for the next two years.”

“But with the Davis Cup result I am as disappointed as our nation is. But overall I am satisfied with my performance. I will be competing in the 2012 London Olympics as well,” added Aisam.

“I am improving in the doubles events and will continue playing this format.”

Captain backs Aisam

Despite a disappointing show from Aisam and Aqeel, Pakistan Davis Cup captain Mohammad Khalid asserted that both the tennis players “are currently the top seeds in the country”.

“This is all we have as our bench strength,” Khalid told The Express Tribune. “Aisam being a top player of our country gave his opponent a hard time.

“His performance in the doubles event wasn’t that bad. But apart from Aisam, both Aqeel and Yasir struggled for many odd reasons.”

“I am not trying to defend Aisam but there are various factors that must be taken into account. We have Yasir and Samir Iftikhar as the second-string tennis players but they aren’t international material at all for the time being.

“Although I agree Yasir had an embarrassing defeat. But the defeat will make them analyse their strengths and weaknesses at the top level.”

Khalid further called upon the local players to step up for the bigger competitions.

“It’s unfortunate we are not producing quality players to replace Aisam and Aqeel,” he said. “Aqeel, Yasir, Samir and many other players may be good at the national level but on the international circuit  they started struggling. This is because they aren’t getting enough competition in the country. They aren’t growing or getting any international exposure.”









Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2011.