Aisam, Aqeel help Pakistan blank Slovenia.

Byline: Kashif Abbasi

ISLAMABAD -- Seasoned campaigners Aisam-ul-Haq and Aqeel Khan showed their class and experience again on Monday as Pakistan blanked Slovenia 3-0 in the World Group I playoff here at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

After winning their respective singles matches, both Aisam and Aqeel showed impressive performance against their Slovenian opponents in the doubles.

The tie, which was originally scheduled to be held on Friday-Saturday, was delayed for two days because of inclement weather in the federal capital.

Though Monday was the last alternate day to decide the fate of the tie but Pakistan's aging duo made full use of home conditions and their vast experience on grass-court to stun the Slovenian players to register a fantastic 3-0 triumph. The result made the remaining two reverse singles dead rubbers.

In the doubles, the veteran Pakistan pair exhibited brilliant performance against Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic and Tom Kocevar Desman.

Pakistan now face Ukraine which defeated Chinese Taipei 3-2 in their World Group I playoff on indoor hard courts in Zaporizhzhia last week.

The 39-year-old Aisam, the former US Open doubles finalist, looked in fine touch as he won several crucial points while his longtime partner Aqeel equally played well as they battled past the visitors in straight but nail-biting sets of the match that lasted for one hour and 26 minutes.

After the hosts comfortably won the opening set 6-3, the contest saw a huge drama in the second set.

Both the teams held their serves as the scoreline read 4-4, 5-5 and then 6-6. Then in tiebreak, Pakistan got five early points but the Slovenians hit back earning four back-to-back points. Then it was 6-5, 6-6 and 6-7.

At this crucial moment, Aisam played a powerful stroke, which could not be returned by the opponent players as Pakistan bagged the match 6-3, 7-6(6) and with it the tie.

Earlier, the 40-year-old Aqeel stunned top-ranked Slovenian Blaz Kavcic who is world No.285 in the singles.

Kavcic, with his brilliant serves and speed crushed Aqeel 6-0 in the first set. However Aqeel, the long serving national champion, made a resounding comeback in the second set. In a neck-and-neck fight the score was 4-4, 5-5 and then 6-6 before the match went into the tiebreak.

In the tiebreak too, it was 6-6 but Aqeel - backed by charge-up home fans - earned the final point to win the set and took the match into the final set.

The Pakistan veteran was in full control in the final set which...