We will do our best to retain our ties in future: Kaleem

Karachi : Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) chief Kaleem Imam Tuesday said that the federation did its best in the past to retain and host its Davis Cup ties but the condition in the country has made their appeals impotent but now the federation will strive to get their share more fervently in future.

Kaleem Imam said that the federation fully understands Pakistan s ace tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi s frustration that they have to play ties, which were scheduled to be played in Pakistan, on opponent s soil.

Pakistan Davis Cup team, comprising of Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan yesterday defeated Lebanon at their home-oil in Davis Cup Asia/Oceania zone group II tie by 3-2.

Aisam and Aqeel won one and lost one each in singles but they managed to beat their opponents in doubles encounter. The tie was originally scheduled to be played in Pakistan but Lebanese were reluctant to come to Pakistan so International Tennis Federation (ITF) moved the venue to Beirut, Lebanon.

After the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, foreign sportsmen are reluctant to come to Pakistan. Pakistan is hosting its ongoing cricket series against England at neutral venue in UAE for a long time. In such circumstances it has been very difficult to convince others to come. In spite of the fact, we have been trying our best to convince foreign players to come and play in Pakistan, Kaleem said.

Few sports prominently boxing managed to hold international events in Pakistan after the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team.

Pakistan boxing officials have managed to host around 20 countries twice in three years in Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Tournament two editions. But since boxing is an indoor sport, so providing security to such an event is considered relatively less troublesome.

Meanwhile, other sports have only hosted tournaments against lowly teams, Kaleem said.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has hosted four-match Test series against China and Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) last year played two matches against Palestine in Karachi and Lahore.

Aisam-ul-Haq, who is the most successful tennis player in the history of Pakistan, has criticized the federation for surrendering its home ties to other nation.

Home conditions and selection of the court, helps our opponent greatly when the tie is moved to their soil. So, the Davis Cup, scheduled to take place in Pakistan, should be played in Pakistan. Moreover, we want to play in front of our crowd so that the game of tennis could be promoted and our nation could see what we have been doing, Aisam said.

Aisam further claimed that the tie they have won 3-2 would have been 5-0 in favor of Pakistan if it had been played in Pakistan as it was originally scheduled.

We fully understand Aisam s grievances and we will renew our effort in retaining hosting rights of tournaments originally given to Pakistan, Kaleem said.

Pakistan will now meet Philippines in the second round match to be played from April 6-8. Philippines routed Pacific Oceania 5-0 in a one-sided opening round clash on Sunday.