ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Monday announced that it will host a Billie Jean King Cup team event for the first time, with the Group III Asian Qualifying round scheduled to be held in October.

According to the PTF, as many as 10 Asian countries are expected to participate in the event, marking another step in Pakistan’s return to hosting international tennis competitions.

Speaking at a press conference, PTF president Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi said the recent staging of multiple International Tennis Federation (ITF) events had helped project a positive image of Pakistan globally.

“Tennis is helping build Pakistan’s soft image, and hosting a women’s team event in October is a significant milestone,” he said.

Flanked by PTF Secretary Colonel (retired) Zia Tufail, players Mohammad Shoaib, Muzammil Murtaza and Abid Ali, as well as representatives of sponsors, Aisam said the standard of tennis in the country had improved over the past couple of years.

“The ITF tournaments — both junior and senior — that we hosted were won by Pakistani players, which is a major achievement,” he noted, praising Shoaib for his success in ITF Futures events and lauding the pair of Muzammil and Abid for their doubles titles.

The PTF chief said Pakistan was emerging as a hub for international tennis, adding that both senior and junior players were showing encouraging progress. He revealed that Shoaib would travel to the United States for training, while Muzammil was set to leave for South Africa.

“For the first time, nine of our players have earned ATP rankings, which is a matter of pride,” he added.

Responding to a query, Aisam expressed disappointment over the postponement of former world champion Bjorn Borg’s visit to Pakistan, saying the Swedish great had cited unavoidable circumstances but assured that he would visit in the near future.

“We had completed all arrangements, including VVIP protocols, but he has promised to come soon,” he said.

It is pertinent to note that Borg’s son, Leo Borg, recently featured in the ITF Futures events held in Islamabad but exited in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, PTF secretary Zia termed the successful hosting of back-to-back international events a major achievement, saying such competitions provided valuable exposure and ranking opportunities for local players.

Muzammil, Abid and Shoaib also expressed satisfaction over their recent performances, saying the events had boosted their confidence.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026