INTERVIEW - Pakistan's Qureshi laments loss of home ties

By Tom Pilcher

LONDON (Reuters) - Pakistan's leading player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi loves competing in the Davis Cup in front of his home fans.

However, since an armed attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore in March that has not been possible. Tennis has become yet another sport cast into the wilderness in Pakistan.

"I was supposed to play Davis Cup ties this year in Pakistan and they've all been shifted to different venues," he told Reuters after winning his first round doubles at Wimbledon.

He has teamed up with Indian Prakash Amritraj and the pair beat 16th seeds Ross Hutchins and Stephen Huss on Wednesday.

Even before the ambush on the Sri Lanka cricket team, Pakistan's Davis Cup tie against Oman was shifted to Muscat for security concerns. Although they won 4-1 Qureshi had been looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd.

"Pakistan is a sports-loving country and unfortunately we have these extremists who just want to create chaos and havoc. It's hurting Pakistan," the 29-year-old said.

"The Davis Cup is the only international tennis event we have at home where Pakistanis can get to see me play, so obviously I was really depressed."

Despite having to travel to the Philippines for Pakistan's next Davis Cup zonal tie in July, Qureshi's enthusiasm for the competition has not been dampened.