ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has decided to hold next February’s Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group I tie against New Zealand in Lahore on grass.

Secretary of PTF, Maj Rashid Khan said Sunday that the tie to be held in early February will take place at the Defence Club. “We had wanted to organise the event at Lahore Gymkhana but there is some construction going on there that could take up to six months,” he told Dawn.

“We have chosen grass because that is our strong point while New Zealand are as good on clay as they are on grass.”

Aisamul Haq, expected to play a leading role in the tie, is currently recovering from surgery for appendicitis he underwent in Lahore. “He should regain complete fitness in about six weeks.”

Rashid refuted reports that Lahore had been chosen as the venue following pressure from Aisam who made it clear that if the tie was held elsewhere, he would stay away. “All such reports are baseless,” he said.

Rashid said that a decision on training camp was likely to be made shortly. “We might stage the initial phase of camp with emphasis on physical fitness and then move to Lahore three weeks before the tie.”

Pakistan earned promotion to Group I after beating China 3-2 in Peshawar last September, Aqeel Khan sealing victory for them.