LAHORE, March 3: Pakistan's top seed Aisamul Haq Qureshi will take on Thailand No 2 Danai Udomchok in the opening singles of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group-1 tie to be held at the Lahore Cosmopolitan Club , Bagh-i-Jinnah, on Friday at 10am.

According to the draws held on Thursday, soon after the first singles, Pakistan No 2 Aqeel Khan will meet Thailand No 1 Paradorn Srichaphan, who is world No 31 and first in Asia.

Pakistan retained Aisam and Aqeel for the doubles to be played on Saturday. The visitors, however, will field twins Sanchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat for the doubles. In the reverse singles, to be played on Sunday, Aisam will face Paradorn in the first followed by the final clash of the best-of-five tie between Aqeel and Danai.

Gary-Au-Yeung from Hong Kong, who had been appointed ITF umpire conducted the draws. ITF umpire hoped that the weather would remain pleasant and there would be no further rain.

"The weather is clear after the overnight light rain. We have covered the courts to make it safe from further rain, but I do hope the weather will remain friendly for the tie in the coming days," he said.

According to the rules, the tie could be extended for a couple of days due to any genuine problems and it could also be shifted on hard courts. After the ceremony Aisam said that he would try to give Pakistan 1-0 lead by beating Danai in the opener.

"I am quite confident of victory against Danai and I know that is more important for Pakistan," Aisam told Dawn. "I have been meeting Danai in the international circuit and we both also started the international career at junior level," Aisam said.

"I had lost to Danai the last time we met but here the things are different. We have the grass courts and home advantages that could prove vital in the outcome of the result," Aisam said.

About his reverse singles against Paradorn, he said that the last time he played Thailand's best-known player in Davis Cup tie held in Lahore in 1998 which he lost. Aqeel said that he would be meeting Paradorn for the first time.

"Yes he is a world ranked player but I am mentally prepared to cause an upset on the given day," Aqeel said. Paradorn said that he was feeling well for visiting Pakistan after a lapse of six years.

"But I am concentrating on my game as lot will depend on my performance," he said. Pakistan's non-playing captain Mohammad Khalid said that the result of the opening singles will be key to the final outcome of the tie.

"Pakistan's chances will be brighter if Aisam gave Pakistan 1-0 lead and I am confident Aisam and Aqeel are capable of winning the doubles," he said. Rashid Malik, the most successful non-playing captain of the Pakistan team, believed the visitors having an edge. However, he claimed thta home advantage could play a crucial role in the final reckoning.

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