We can upset India in Davis Cup tie, claims Aqeel Khan

The Indian Davis Cup team made the trip to Islamabad for their scheduled Davis Cup tie against arch rivals - Pakistan. The two sides last faced off against each other in a Davis Cup tie 13 years ago in Mumbai in 2006, which India won 3-2.

Veteran Pakistan tennis player Aqeel Khan claimed that despite the vast gap between both teams, the home side can cause an upset when the two sides meet this month. 

"It is not going to be an easy passage for us to the World Group Qualifiers as India is way ahead of us in tennis with better facilities, more money and professionalism, and good talent," Aqeel said.

"India has progressed a lot in tennis and it is not the same for us but I think with the experience Aisam and I have of playing together in the Davis Cup and our understanding as a doubles pair and plus the advantage of playing at home, we can cause an upset as a team," Khan was quoted as saying by PTI sources. 

This will be the first time an Indian tennis team will travel to Pakistan in a period of 55 years. The last time India played Pakistan away from home was way back in March 1964 in Lahore, where India won 4-0. Khan, who is coached by father Jamil Khan, further added that he had no doubts that the Indian team would make the trip across the border for their Davis Cup tie under obligation from senior ITF officials. 

"I think when India comes here and we play the Davis Cup tie it will lift the profile of the sport in our country.

"If they had refused to come to Islamabad, the ITF would have docked them (impose penalty) and also fined them heavily. It would have hurt them in the Davis Cup World Group so they had to come for the Davis Cup tie," Khan added.