ISLAMABAD - Pakistan started their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group-I campaign on the worst possible fashion as both brothers Aqeel Khan and Yasir Khan lost on the inaugural day of the tie against Chinese players in the singles matches played on neutral venue of Colombo, Sri Lanka on Friday.
Pakistan’s longest serving number 1 player, Aqeel, who is also creating history by nearing 50 Davis Cup matches for Pakistan, was pitted against Ze Zhang in the first singles of the day.
Aqeel played well in the first set before losing the first set 4-6. It was all Zhang in the second and third sets as the Chinese won the second set 6-2 and also third set with same 6-2 margin to give China edge over Pakistan.
In the second singles match, Aqeel Khan’s younger brother Yasir Khan was the surprise pick against Di Wu. In the past it was Aisamul Haq who carried the burden of playing singles matches also. But this time Yasir was given the opportunity to show case his skills.
Yasir although lost 3-1 but he played superb tennis and went down fighting. Wu won the first set 6-, but Yasir bounced back in style to take the second set 6-1. Yasir gave Pakistan some hope but it was all he could get from the match as he lost third set 4-6 and 4th set 2-6.
Now Pakistan hopes of staying alive in the tie rests entirely on the shoulders of highly experienced time-tested pair of Aisam and Aqeel to win doubles tie and ensure tie remained alive or else curtains would fall on Pakistan’s hopes. Aisam/Aqeel will face Yan Bai and Mad Xin Gong in the doubles all-important match.