KARACHI, April 10: Relegated to group III for the first time, Pakistan swamped the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 3-0 in the opening group ‘A’ fixture of the Asia Oceania zone Davis Cup at the Enghelab Sports Complex clay court the other day.

According to information available here on Thursday, eight competing teams have been drawn in two equal pools. Group ‘A’ consists of Pakistan, Vietnam, UAE and Syria while group ‘B’ comprised Sri Lanka, Iran, Malaysia and Tajikistan.

Pakistan was supposed to play their next match against Vietnam on Thursday while they are drawn to meet Syria on Friday.

Top two teams from each pool will advance to next stage and at the end of round-robin competition the first and second finishers will earn promotion in group II in 2009.

Results: Pakistan bt UAE 3-0

Aqeel Khan bt H. Janahi 6-1, 6-1; Asim Qureshi bt M. Al Baloushi 6-3, 6-3; Jibran Ahmed/Asim Shafik bt K. Al Hassani/F. Bastaki 6-1, 6-1.