ISLAMABAD – Veteran Leander Paes improved his Davis Cup record to 44doubles wins Saturday as India thrashed Pakistan 4-0 in the Asia/Oceaniatie played at a neutral venue due to political tensions between thearch-rivals.
The 46-year-old Paes combined with Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan to serve outPakistan´s teenage pair of Muhammad Shoaib and Huzaifa Abdul Rehman 6-1,6-3 in the Kazakhstan capital of Nur-Sultan.
Paes, who overtook Italy´s Nicola Pietrangeli as Davis Cup´s mostsuccessful doubles player with his 43rd win last year, won the doublesmatch to seal India´s berth in the qualifiers.
Sumit Nagal then turned out for the reverse single to outplay Yousaf Khalil6-1, 6-0 in 32 minutes and the fifth match was not played.
India will now travel to Croatia — two-time Davis Cup champions — nextyear for the world group qualifiers to be played on March 6-7.
The 12 winners of the qualifiers will join the six teams — Spain, Canada,Great Britain, Russia, France and Serbia — that have already booked theirplace in the Davis Cup finals.
The International Tennis Federation moved the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie awayfrom Islamabad because of India´s security fears even though Pakistanopposed the decision.
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Pakistan´s top players Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan pulled out ofthe tie in protest.
The match was also pushed back from September because of security fears, asthe two countries were wrangling over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
The nuclear-armed neighbours split angrily in 1947 after independence fromBritain and have fought three wars since. Sport has also suffered badly.
India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after attacks in Mumbai in2008 that authorities blamed on Pakistani militants.
India last played a Davis Cup tie in Pakistan in 1964, when they beat thehosts 4-0. Pakistan lost 3-2 when they played in Mumbai in 2006. – APP/AFP
