Pakistan to take on Sri Lanka in Davis Cup

Aqeel eyes comfortable win against hosts in first round.

KARACHI: Pakistan players are all set for their opening Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone group II tie against Sri Lanka as they aim at progressing into group l of the tournament.

The team including Aisamul Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Yasir Khan and Muhammad Abid left for Colombo yesterday, where they will play the tie on February 1.

Although the country remain favourites to win the tie, the team is still struggling to progress in the tournament. Pakistan lost in the group II semi-final last year for the fourth consecutive year when they lost to Philippines 5-0.

Earlier, Aisam had said that his aim this year was to take Pakistan to play among the top teams in the Asia-Oceania zone along with India, Japan, Australia and Uzbekistan in group I. He further said he will push the Pakistan Tennis federation (PTF) to convince the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to allow Pakistan to host the ties on their home ground.

Meanwhile, Pakistan number one player Aqeel said that had the PTF been successful in convincing the ITF to let Pakistan host their home ties in Lahore or Islamabad, the team would have made a place for themselves in the Asia-Oceania group I two years ago.

“It’s unfair that we can’t have any ties at home,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune. “We are a stronger team here, we should at least get to choose our favourite surface. This time Sri Lanka has chosen clay courts which is not exactly favourable to us. They are a very competitive side, they are improving each year, so we can’t take Sri Lanka lightly, but I’m sure that we can win the tie convincingly.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2013.