LAHORE, Sept 16: The South Korean non-playing-captain Choon Ho Kim on Tuesday predicted an even chance of success for his team in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Play-off Group-I tie against Pakistan scheduled to begin at the Defence Club from Friday.

Talking to Dawn at the Defence Club where the tie will be played, Kim observed that hot weather and lack of experience of his boys on grass gave some edge to Pakistan players who would also have the added advantage of playing before home crowd.

“ Our top player Kim Young Chun has some experience on grass while the other three players are not good on such type of surface”, confessed Kim, who arrived with his team the other day.

 South Korean team comprises Young Joon Khn, Kyu Taeim, Hee Seok Chung and Hee Sung Chung.

Kim said that this was his first visit to Pakistan and he was enjoying the hospitality accorded to his squad.

Asked if he would rely on top two players or would test all four, Kim said that a decision in this regard would be taken tomorrow.

However, he said that at least three of his players were equally good and capable to play any match.

Pakistan’s coach Rashid Malik, however, said that he would bank on only two players — Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan.

“The tie is very important for Pakistan and I am not in a position to take chances with Nomi Qamar or Jalil Khan”, Rashid who also had predicted 50-50 chances for home team.

Asked why he had not included Ahmad Wahla for the doubles’s encounter, Rashid said that he was not fully fit.”Wahla is my student, but I tested his fitness during the trial which was not upto the mark”, Rashid said.

He said that the South Koreans were physically tough and they had ability to excel on any court, but even then, Pakistan would have the advantage of the grass court.

To a question, Aisam, who will be playing his 11th Davis Cup tie since 1998, said that he was mentally prepared to equally share all the five matches with Aqeel Khan, as Pakistan was not in a position to take risk at this crucial stage.

He said that in case of defeat Pakistan would be relegated to Group-II and it would again be struggling to upgrade itself.

Aisam, who has been playing at international level for the last four years said that he had no idea about the strength of the South Koreans.

Aqeel said that he had also prepared himself to share the load with Aisam equally.

Aisam and Aqeel are the two players whom Pakistan has been relying for success in Davis Cup since 2000.