Barbados beat Pakistan in Davis Cup

ISLAMABAD: Aisamul Haq’s failure to recover fully from typhoid dealt a crucial blow to Pakistan as the team lost 3-1 to low-ranked Barbados in the World Group II Davis Cup tie at the Bridgetown National Tennis Club.

Aisam and Aqeel Khan lost crucial and decisive doubles to hand over the initiative to the Barbados team that claimed the tie with ease. Aqeel was not required to play reverse singles as even the drafted Khalil could not show any threat to Barbado’s ace player.

However, it was the doubles loss that turned crucial with Barbados little-known pair Darian King and Hydn Lewis beating Pakistan’s Aqeel and Aisam 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 6-2. The third set was a formality as it was asking too much from struggling Aisam.

Darian King outplayed Yousaf Khalil 6-3, 6-0 to settle the tie in favour of Barbados. It was one of the worst performances by the Pakistan Davis Cup team in the recent past. Pakistan are ranked 44th in the world and Barbados 53rd.