NZ to host Davis Cup

This July's Davis Cup tie between Pakistan and New Zealand has been moved from the subcontinent on security grounds.

The second round Asia/Oceania clash was scheduled to be played in Pakistan but ongoing security concerns have led the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to move the encounter to New Zealand.

The move comes after Tennis New Zealand last week approached the ITF to request the tie be switched to New Zealand soil or a neutral venue.

The Pakistan tennis authorities were adamant the match could be staged in safety but the ITF has nevertheless overturned the hosting schedule.

A letter from the ITF to the Pakistan and New Zealand associations, published on www.tennisnz.com, read: "Due to the existing security concerns that continue to surround the hosting of sporting events in Pakistan, the Davis Cup Committee met last week to review the situation, deciding on this occasion to reverse the choice of ground for this tie, resulting in New Zealand now having choice of ground."

Tennis New Zealand revealed it will announce its chosen venue for the tie by April.

Recent Davis Cup ties hosted in New Zealand have been staged in Taranaki (against China, 2008), North Shore City (vs Malaysia, 2009) and Hamilton (vs Indonesia, 2009).

The New Zealand Davis Cup team for the tie will be announced in mid-June.