ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has requested the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to allow it to host the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II final in Lahore.

Pakistan have the option to decide where they will play the final against Chinese Taipei — from Sept 18-21 — after defeating Indonesia in Jakarta in the semi-finals earlier this month at the PTF believes there is no security issue in the country.

“For final we have the choice of ground and therefore, we requested the ITF to allow us to host final at Lahore’s Defence Club,” PTF chief Salim Saifullah Khan said, requesting the government to take up the matter at foreign office level.

“We have the capacity to hold this event in a befitting manner and there is no security issue in the country. We haven’t seen a Davis Cup tie played in Pakistan for the last decade but now we should be allowed to host it,” he added whilst speaking at the ceremony organised to honour the heroes of Pakistan’s Davis Cup semi-final victory.

Pakistan No1 Aqeel Khan and Abid Ali Akbar along with non-playing captain Hamid-ul-Haq were present on the occasion but Samir Iftikhar, who is in the US, could not attend the ceremony.

Salim later told Dawn that the PTF is taking up the matter through the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) before the ITF before adding: “In case of failure, we will go for a neutral venue such as India.”

Aqeel was awarded Rs200,000 by the PTF chief while Abid and hamid received Rs100,000 and Rs50,000 respectively. It was also announced that the central court at PTF Islamabad Tennis Complex would be named after Aqeel.

“We are going to name the court after Aqeel in recognition of his 16 years of services and over 40 appearances in Davis cup matches,” Salim said.

Aqeel told Dawn that he was honoured by the step taken by the PTF. “I’ve earned a lot of money but that doesn’t matter for me,” he said. “I feel extremely honoured.”

On the final, he added: “We have balanced side and will have Aisam-ul-Qureshi back for the final so I think we can win against Chinese Taipei.

“Having Aisam back will be crucial to our chances.”

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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