KARACHI: Pakistan’s hopes of booking their place in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group I ended as hosts Thailand took an unassailable 3-0 lead after winning the doubles rubber on Saturday.
The previous day, Thailand were 2-0 up, having won their singles matches, and Pakistan’s hopes were pinned on the doubles event with Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan.
However, the duo lost the crucial match 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to twin brothers Sanchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat Ratiwatana on day two.
Thailand have confirmed their spot in Group I as the winners of Group II. They had defeated Kuwait in their semi-final match 4-1 in April while Pakistan had qualified for the final after defeating the Philippines 3-2.
Pakistan last played in Group I in 2006, and were relegated to Group II the same year when they lost to China 5-0.
The team will play the remaining singles matches on Sunday.
According to former Davis Cup player Hamedul Haq, Pakistan desperately needs new talent for the tournament.
“I retired in 1998 so that I can make space for Aqeel and Aisam,” Hamed told The Express Tribune. “These two have served a lot and have made us proud, but we need other players to compete in the Davis Cup as well.”
Hewitt, Guccione clinch World Group playoff
Lleyton Hewitt steered Australia back to the Davis Cup World Group with a dominating performance in the doubles win over Uzbekistan in Perth on Saturday.
The 33-year-old warhorse partnered Chris Guccione to a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 victory over Uzbek pair Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov to clinch the tie.
"We [Guccione and I] have completely opposite game styles, personalities and everything,” said Hewitt. “But we team up really well though and we know what we're going to get from one another on the court.”
Australia were forced in a play-off to retain their status in the elite 16-nation World Group after a first-round loss to France in February.
Meanwhile, Taiwan beat South Korea in a Davis Cup second-round tie to trail 2-1 in the fight to avoid a crunch relegation play-off against New Zealand.
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