ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: Davis Cup veteran Hameedul Haq feels that the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) should have chosen clay surface instead of grass for the forthcoming Asia Oceania Zone Group I tie against Thailand.

"I think clay would have given Pakistan a slight edge but I don't think our players would be able to face Paradorn Srichapan and others on grass," Hameed, a former claycourt champion, told Dawn on Sunday.

The Davis Cup tie is to be played at Lahore from March 4 to 6 and the PTF plans to set up a training camp for the players from Feb 8.

Hameed, who has the most singles Davis Cup wins for the country, pointed out that the camp should have begun long ago because the national players have had nothing to do in the past two months.

"It would have been appropriate if Aqeel (Khan) had been sent abroad during the months of December and January so that he could have warmed up well for the tie."

He said that it was because of such wrong planning that Pakistan have not been able to make the top four in Asia despite having the talented Aisamul Haq and Aqeel Khan among their ranks.

"Both Aisam and Aqeel are ranked higher than players from India, China, Indonesia and Uzbekistan but still we are always struggling to avoid being relegated to Group B."

Hameed, the reigning Asian senior champion, said that last September's home tie with New Zealand, which Pakistan barely managed to win 3-2 went so close only because it was played on clay.

"It was a wrong decision made by the PTF and the tie should have been contested on grass."

"Although Pakistan players were a lot better ranked than the New Zealanders, it was because of the wrong surface that the match went down the wire."

While appreciating the efforts being made by PTF president Syed Dilawar Abbas, he called upon the other federation officials and also the players do their bit.

"The president has been able to raise a big sum of money for the first time in PTF history and the players are also getting their due share, but I fail to understand why we are not among the top four in Asia."

The PTF today has almost Rs 15 million in its kitty, thanks to former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat and Punjab Chief Minister Ch. Pervaiz Elahi.

Hameed said that he was surprised that under the current managers of PTF, Pakistan have lost 26 Davis Cup matches while they have been able to win only nine, all of them at home.