PESHAWAR, Sept 17: Hosts Pakistan are banking on Aisamul Haq Qureshi to secure an upset victory over China in their Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone Group II final starting Friday.

Aisam’s pairing with Israeli Amir Haddad in the doubles at Wimbledon in June and in the US Open last month caused a furore in Pakistan.

But the Pakistan Tennis Federation decreed that no disciplinary action was called for.

“ Aisam played in his own capacity as a professional player and no explanation was sought from him,” federation president Syed Dilawar Abbas told the media.

Pakistan, which initially threatened to ban Aisam , has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Chinese team arrived Tuesday morning for the first international sports event in this northwestern city since the United States launched attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan last year.

“It’s safe now and the Chinese team will be provided with requisite security,” Abbas said.

The tie will be played on grass from Friday through Sunday, with China the favourites on their Davis Cup record.

The winner will play in the zone’s Group I next year.

“We have quality players but we have heard Pakistan also have some good players so it will be a very tough match,” said Chinese captain Ren Yi.

Pakistan coach Rasheed Malik put the odds at 60-40 in favour of China but said his team still has a chance.

“We expect dazzling work from Qureshi and if he wins us both singles we can beat a tough Chinese team,” he said.

Pakistan beat Malaysia in the first round and Chinese Taipei in the semi-final while China had the better of Kuwait in the first round and Kazakhstan in the semi-final.

Teams:

Pakistan: Aisamul Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Asim Shafik and Nomi Qamar.

China: Xu Ran, Wang Yu, Zeng Shao Xuan, Sun Peng, Zhu Benqiang and Lu Hao.—AFP