Published on Mar 04, 2005
Courtesy : Pakistan Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan will be looking to upset their strong rivals when they take on Thailand in Asia-Oceania Group I tie at the Cosmopolitan Club grass courts here on Friday (today). Both teams are meeting each other after a gap of eight years. Previously Pakistan met Thailand in Lahore in 1998.

The draws of the three-day tie were taken out at a simple ceremony on Thursday. The draws were decided under the supervision of ITF match referee Gary Au Yeng from Hong Kong.

Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi will play Thailand's number two player Danai Udomchoke in the opening match. In the second singles match, Pakistan's Aqeel Khan will take on the Thai number one and world number 11 Paradorn Srichaphan. On the second day, Aisam and Aqeel will take on Sonchat Ratiwatana and Sanchai Ratiwatana, while in the reverse singles Aqeel will be playing Danai and Aisam will be taking on Paradorn on the third and final day. “Both sides can change players in the reverse singles,” match referee told reporters.

Aisam and Aqeel predicted a 3-2 victory for Pakistan “It will be a closely fought encounter in which we have the edge due to grass courts,” the duo said. They rejected a question that Paradorn could be a danger for Pakistan.

“No doubt he is among the top world players, but even then he can be beaten and we are ready to do that,” observed Aqeel. Aisam said that grass would be an added advantage for the home side as the Thai team lacked the grass experience. Conceding that Paradorn was an outstanding player, Aisam reiterated his pledge to beat him if faced him in the reserve singles. “We know people expect a lot from us and want a repeat of 1998 when we defeated Thailand 3-2 in a similar encounter,” the duo added.

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