A spirited Pakistan is getting ready to face the stiff challenge from formidable Thailand in the first round of Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone, Group 1, tie being played at the grass courts of Lahore’s Cosmopolitan Club, in the Bagh-e-Jinnah premises.
The visitors have a bitter memory of Lahore as it is the same city where they were humbled 2-3 at the hands of the hosts in their previous meeting in 1998. However, after waiting for six years, the Thais got a chance to avenge the defeat at home, last year and they did it in style, making a clean sweep (5-0). In addition, the two teams have met on four occasions in a span of nine years with each of them winning two ties apiece.
This is for the third year running that Pakistan has retained its position in Group 1 after handing a 3-2 defeat to China at Peshawar in 2002. Though retaining the Group 1 status is a good omen, at the same time if one goes by Pakistan’s performance in the last two rubbers against South Korea in 2003 and New Zealand last year, one finds that it was Aqeel Khan who steered the home team to victory after the celebrated, Aisam-ul-Haq faltered in the reverse singles on both the occasions. Even against China, Aisam after leading 6-4, 6-4 went down 3-6, 1-6 and 1-6 in the reverse singles.
Aisam, 25, who enjoys an edge against Thais in world doubles ranking, unfortunately has a tendency of suffering from cramps and this puts a lot of pressure on Aqeel, who has emerged as a star in the making, showing nerves of steel and match temperament which are, of course, at par with world class players.
“To beat Thailand is a tough task and can be accomplished provided Aisam rise to the occasion and shoulder support to Aqeel,” said veteran Davis Cup player Khawaja Saeed Hai, who has captained Pakistan 31 times.
Statistics reveal that Thailand have improved leaps and bound in the recent past and is presently ranked 17 in the Davis Cup world rankings. Pakistan’s current Davis Cup ranking is exactly double (34) of Thailand.
It is unfortunate that Pakistan tennis is confined to handful of players for the past five years with Aisam and Aqeel carrying most of the burden - to play on all three days in an event like Davis Cup. There is a vast gap that follows the two players.
The PTF should chalk out a strategy for Davis Cup, the importance of which is not fully understood in the country. What the players need to is participate in maximum ITF satellite tournaments abroad to fill the existing gap and come at par with foreign stars. Playing at home can’t improve their skills.
History shows that Harry Hopman, who captained the Australian Davis Cup team for three decades without interruption, was a fitness freak. His boys could easily run five miles after playing a five-set thriller. Can the PTF learn lesson from this?
