8.30am
New Zealand Tennis (NZT) have failed in a bid to have next month's Davis Cup tie with Pakistan moved from Islamabad amid fears over security.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has denied NZT's requests to have the tie moved to New Zealand, but strongly recommended they have a 24-hour armed guard
during their stay.
New Zealand Davis Cup captain Bruce Derlin told the Dominion Post NZT's concern was warranted with recent unrest in parts of Pakistan.
"We are going to monitor it day by day. A couple of bombs went off last night, but everything seems to be in the south at Karachi.
"We are all on the same wavelength. If it's looking dodgy we will have a vote and if someone doesn't want to go, that's fine."
The clay court tie will be held in the relative safety of the Islamabad Club, an exclusive 700-seat country club on September 24-26.
"Cricket's much more high profile than tennis over there, so hopefully we don't attract too much attention," Derlin said.
NZT chief executive Don Turner said the decision to allow the team to travel had been made only after "extensive inquiries with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the ITF".
In 2003 NZT successfully lobbied to have New Zealand's tie with Pakistan moved from Islamabad to Hamilton.
This year's tie is crucial to New Zealand with the losers dropping out of Asia-Oceania's top group. The New Zealand team for the tie is Mark Nielsen (North Harbour), Simon Rea (North Harbour), Lee Radovanovich (Auckland) and William Ward (Auckland) with a fifth player to be added, most likely Wellington's Matt Prentice. Kiwi No 2 Adam Thompson has made himself unavailable due to playing commitments.
- NZPA
