Tennis: Lebanon agree to play Davis Cup in Pakistan
Lahore, Islamabad tipped to host tie in February.
KARACHI:
Lebanon have given Pakistan tennis a massive boost by agreeing to tour for its scheduled Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group 2 fixture next year, a move that will see resumption of Davis Cup in Pakistan after six years.
The tie is scheduled to be held in February, which will be the first since 2005 when Lahore hosted back-to-back ties against Thailand and Chinese Taipei. Since then countries have shown reluctance to tour due to security concerns. As a result, Pakistan lost rights to host Oman, Philippines, New Zealand and Hong Kong, forcing the national team to give up home advantage.
However, the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has termed the development a huge breakthrough for the revival of international tennis in the country.
“It’s a huge boost for the game as well as for the country’s sports,” PTF Vice-President Irshad Bhatti told The Express Tribune. “We will send our delegation to Lebanon next month for a detailed meeting. The plans will be finalised and the federation will also remove concerns of their players, if any.”
He hinted that Lahore could play host again. “There is an 80% chance that the match will be hosted in Lahore due to availability of better grass courts. The other venue as part of our plans is Islamabad.”
PTF seeks Fed Cup hosting
Bhatti added that the PTF has also bid to host the Fed Cup (Asia leg) which is to be competed by 19 countries next year.
“We have sought hosting rights for the Fed Cup in October 2012. Sponsors are ready with Rs8 million and we just need the ITF’s green light.”
Aqeel hopes for reversed fortunes
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s top-ranked tennis player Aqeel Khan has welcomed the development, saying that Pakistan has suffered immensely due to the shifting of its home ties.
“It’s a huge breakthrough for us,” said Khan, who has been representing Pakistan in Davis Cup for over a decade. “I hope the security situation remains under control and the tie is held as per schedule. We were denied home advantage and as a result we lost many matches, which we could have won.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2011.
Lebanon have given Pakistan tennis a massive boost by agreeing to tour for its scheduled Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group 2 fixture next year, a move that will see resumption of Davis Cup in Pakistan after six years.
The tie is scheduled to be held in February, which will be the first since 2005 when Lahore hosted back-to-back ties against Thailand and Chinese Taipei. Since then countries have shown reluctance to tour due to security concerns. As a result, Pakistan lost rights to host Oman, Philippines, New Zealand and Hong Kong, forcing the national team to give up home advantage.
However, the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has termed the development a huge breakthrough for the revival of international tennis in the country.
“It’s a huge boost for the game as well as for the country’s sports,” PTF Vice-President Irshad Bhatti told The Express Tribune. “We will send our delegation to Lebanon next month for a detailed meeting. The plans will be finalised and the federation will also remove concerns of their players, if any.”
He hinted that Lahore could play host again. “There is an 80% chance that the match will be hosted in Lahore due to availability of better grass courts. The other venue as part of our plans is Islamabad.”
PTF seeks Fed Cup hosting
Bhatti added that the PTF has also bid to host the Fed Cup (Asia leg) which is to be competed by 19 countries next year.
“We have sought hosting rights for the Fed Cup in October 2012. Sponsors are ready with Rs8 million and we just need the ITF’s green light.”
Aqeel hopes for reversed fortunes
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s top-ranked tennis player Aqeel Khan has welcomed the development, saying that Pakistan has suffered immensely due to the shifting of its home ties.
“It’s a huge breakthrough for us,” said Khan, who has been representing Pakistan in Davis Cup for over a decade. “I hope the security situation remains under control and the tie is held as per schedule. We were denied home advantage and as a result we lost many matches, which we could have won.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2011.