ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: Pakistan will take on New Zealand Feb 7-9 at the grass courts in Lahore in the first tie of Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone, Group-1.

Pakistan has selected grass courts of Defence Club, Lahore, for the tie against a strong New Zealand, according to sources in the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Saturday.

Under the rules framed by International Tennis Federation (ITF), the choice of courts is with the home side which can hold a Davis Cup tie either at grass, clay court, hard court or artificial surface.

Pakistan had qualified for Group-1 after sensationally beating China 3-2 in the final of Group-II, Asian-Oceania Zone, at Peshawar last month when the host nation’s no. 2 Aqeel Khan beat his Chinese rival in the second of the reverse singles after top seed Aisamul Haq suffered cramps and consequently had to leave court in the middle of first reverse singles, levelling the tie at 2-2.

The Senior Vice President of Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA), Iftikhar Rao, who is also additional secretary home in the Punjab government, has been appointed the “chief coordinator” for organising the tie, according to PTF officials.

Meanwhile, the first phase of the training camp for Pakistani probables for the New Zealand tie will be staged at PTF Complex from Dec 10 and will continue for about nine days before the players disperse to play Chief of Air Staff, Khyber Cup”, being organised at Peshawar from Dec 18.

“The Khyber Cup will also be part of players training”, according to sources. “After that, we have Wapda Inter Unit competition at Lahore from Jan 2 to 7 and that too will keep the players busy because a good number of them are from this department”, the sources added.

“The second phase of the camp will definitely be held in Lahore but we are considering whether to hold another phase of the camp at Islamabad or in Lahore in between Khyber Cup and Wapda Inter Unit competition”, said an official.

Pakistan’s top-ranked international player Aisamul Haq is likely to attend a major part of the training camp in Lahore where he is recuperating after undergoing an appendix operation 4-5 weeks back.

“The doctors had advised him six weeks rest and he is likely to start light training in about a fortnight”, said the sources who named the other likely camp probables as:Aqeel Khan, Asim Shafik, Nomi Qamar, Shehzad Samad Khan, Wasif Cheema, Shehzad Ahmed, Inam Gul and Muhammad Shafik.

Another name at the back of PTF big bosses mind is the US-based Pakistani Rameez Junaid. “He is supposed to be very good if we go by his records”, said an official. “It is another thing if he will be available for camp training and selection”.—APP