KARACHI, Jan 27: Pakistan No. 1 Aqeel Khan has expressed optimism about his team’s chances in the upcoming Asia-Oceania zone group 1 Davis Cup away tie against Chinese Taipei on the latter’s soil starting Feb 10.

‘Though our away track record against them is not encouraging, yet we enjoy an edge particularly in the doubles,’ Aqeel who steered Pakistan to couple of memorable triumphs in Davis Cup ties in the past, said on Friday.

He was talking to Dawn in presence of his two younger brothers, Jalil Khan and Yasir Khan, at the Modern Club. Aqeel and Jalil will be part of the four-member Davis Cup team while the third sibling would travel as observer.

He said this will not be the first occasion when three brothers would be part of Pakistan team as Haq brothers- Hameed, Islam and Inam were picked in the national team in the past.

Statistics show that out of the eight Davis Cup ties played between the two countries since 1988, Chinese Taipei had won five-three on the clay court and two on hard court. Pakistan’s two victories came on grass and one on hard court.

Aqeel, 26, who made his debut in the Pakistan Davis Cup team against Pacific Oceania in 1998, has been a regular member since then. He has played Davis Cup matches against New Zealand, Japan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Iran, Malaysia, Syria, China Thailand and Chile.

Pakistan qualified for the World Group for the first time last year but lost out when they were whitewashed by Chile 5-0.

Aqeel attributed his matches against China at Peshawar, New Zealand at Islamabad and Korea at Lahore ‘exciting’ as after being tied 2-2, he played anchor-sheet role by winning the decisive reverse singles.

Serving in Wapda, Aqeel disclosed that the winner of this tie would meet winner of India-South Korea while the losers of the two matches would take on each other.

On the other hand, Jalil has staged a comeback in Pakistan team after a year by winning the trials. He had three Davis Cup matches under his belt against South Korea in 2003, Thailand and Chinese Taipei in 2004.

Yasir, a student in DHA College, had toured Sri Lanka and Philippines with Pakistan junior team.