Pakistan is scheduled to face New Zealand in the next round on April 5. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has given preference to Myanmar as the neutral venue for the country’s second round Davis Cup Asia-Ocean Zone II tie against New Zealand.
According to PTF secretary Mumtaz Yousuf, the federation corresponded with Myanmar due to the availability of grass courts there as the players are accustomed to this surface.
Pakistan is scheduled to face New Zealand in the next round on April 5 after defeating Sri Lanka 3-2 earlier this month, while New Zealand outplayed Lebanon 5-0 in the first round.
The Lebanese team had faced the same issue as Pakistan, since New Zealand had refused to travel to Beirut due to security concerns. However, Lebanon failed to find a neutral venue and played their home-tie in New Zealand instead.
Facing a similar fate, Pakistan has not hosted a Davis Cup tie since 2010, playing their ties on their opponent’s courts for three years now.
However, Yousuf said the PTF was trying to rope in Sri Lanka or Myanmar as their neutral venue since New Zealand has refused to travel to Pakistan.
“Our two options are Myanmar and Sri Lanka,” Yousuf told The Express Tribune. “Myanmar is our first priority because of the availability of grass courts there and our players fare better on this surface.
“However, our second option is Sri Lanka, where even though the players would have to compete on clay courts, they have played their last tie there so they are better accustomed to these conditions.
“We’re just waiting for the International Tennis Federation’s reply to our request.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2013.
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