Tennis: Pressure on NZ to play in Pakistan

Pakistan tennis officials are insisting action be taken against New Zealand if the team refuses to play their Davis Cup tie in Pakistan.

New Zealand officials requested the International Tennis Federation (ITF) review its tour schedule after advancing to the Asia-Oceania zone group two semifinal with a win over Sri Lanka this week.

The July 9-11 tie against Pakistan was scheduled to take place in Pakistan, but New Zealand have asked for it to be moved to either New Zealand or a neutral venue because of security concerns.

Tennis New Zealand events and operations manager Tracy Hall said the ITF had already shown flexibility in its scheduling by having the first-round tie between Pakistan and Hong Kong-China moved from Pakistan to the former British colony.

"They moved it from Pakistan because it was too dangerous," Hall said.

However, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) chief selector Khawaja Saeed Hai, a former senior Davis Cup player, has demanded the International Tennis Federation (ITF) take action against New Zealand if they refuse to play in Pakistan.

"Pakistan has suffered financially and lost home advantage as teams refusing to play in Pakistan on security fears," Saeed Hai told the Associated Press of Pakistan.

He said he had asked ITF to press the New Zealanders to play in Pakistan as there was no security problem, and warned they might be penalised for default if they refused to play.

- NZPA