Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Iran scored back-to-back consolation wins against hosts Pakistan on the final day of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II tie at the Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad here on Sunday. Pakistan, hosting international tennis after a 12-year hiatus, had already won the tie by taking the first two singles and then the doubles match on Saturday, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead. Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan won their singles rubbers and the doubles match to ensure the team in green progresses to the second round. Pakistan’s non-playing captain Rashid Malik then gave a chance to Abid Ali Akbar and Muhammad Abid to prove their mettle against Iran on the last day. However, despite spirited performances by the youngsters, it was Iran’s players who came out on top. Iran’s Hamid Reza Nadaf beat Akbar 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-3 in the first match of the day and the fourth rubber in the tie. Shahin Khaledan defeated Abid 7-6 (10-8), 6-3 in the fifth and final rubber. Pakistan won the contest 3-2.

International sporting events have been rarely held in Pakistan, which has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for years, with foreign teams citing security fears. A 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore effectively sealed Pakistan’s fate. Its teams have played at neutral venues ever since, hosting ‘home’ cricket matches in the United Arab Emirates and tennis in opponents’ countries. But security has improved in the last two years, and the visit of the Iranian Davis Cup team has signalled hopes for the slow revival of international sport on home soil. Pakistan last hosted a Davis Cup tie in Islamabad against New Zealand in 2004.

Aqeel, disappointed to see Pakistan lose two matches in the tie, said yesterday that the players would learn from these losses. “Day three was more about giving exposure to the youngsters,” Aqeel added. “I also started this way. We were back-up players when we began; we’d play dead rubbers too. Both Akbar and Abid got invaluable experience of playing at home and they have understood the pressure that comes along with being in the spotlight.” Pakistan are the top seeds in the group having been relegated from Group I after losing to New Zealand in September last year. However, top players Aisam and Aqeel are hopeful that the country will regain their place in Group I this year since the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has allowed Pakistan to host the ties at home after 12 years. “It will be better for us to focus on the next round and I’m glad that the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is considering our recommendations; we’ll need to be playing the next tie on grass courts to win. The aim is to get back into Group I,” said Aqeel.