KARACHI: Country’s top tennis player Aqeel Khan said had the Pakistan-New Zealand Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone Group I second-round relegation playoff tie been played at a neutral venue, preferably in Colombo, the results would have been different.

“The Kiwis are always tough on hard courts in their conditions but they come under pressure while playing on clay courts, [like] in Colombo in humid weather,” Aqeel told Dawn on Wednesday.

To substantiate his point, Aqeel cited an example saying the Kiwis faced tough resistance from Sri Lanka before registering a 3-2 victory in Colombo in Group II first round in 2010.

Asked why he didn’t play the singles, the aging team captain said he preferred Abid Ali Akbar and Samir Iftikhar because they were young and will have to shoulder responsibilities in the years ahead.

Yet to another question, Aqeel said he had no plans to quit the game.

“I’m still fit enough and am likely to play Davis Cup for the country at least for a year or two,” the 36-year-old Aqeel remarked.

According to the draws, Pakistan play Iran in the Group II opener from Feb 3. The winners of this tie face the winners of Hong Kong China-Vietnam tie in the next round.

He said like many previous ties, Pakistan had the advantage of the choice of venue against Iran and it will be played at a neutral venue.

Aqeel suggested the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) to find a permanent neutral venue that can financially benefit the PTF and suit the players as has been done by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

He regretted that the country has been isolated for many years and foreign teams refuse to come citing security concerns.

Aqeel, who has been Pakistan’s No.1 for nearly two decades, backed the PTF decision to hold trials for selection of Davis Cup teams in future which has been the practice since long.

It is pertinent to mention here that the duo of Abid and Samir were included in the team for the Christchurch tie without trials.

“Aisam refused to travel to Christchurch as a protest on two counts – for not coming to Pakistan and the referees awarding Kiwis the tie held between the two nations in Myanmar in 2013.

“I’d won the opener against Artem Sitak 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 while Aisam was one-all and 3-0 up against Daniel King Turner when the referee awarded the match to New Zealand terming the court not fit for play, which to us was a controversial decision,” Aqeel recalled.

Published in Dawn September 29th, 2016