Aisam wants to bring Pak more sporting cheer

Not far from where Younis Khan lifted the ICC World T20 cup about a week back,another Pakistan...

Not far from where Younis Khan lifted the ICC World T20 cup about a week back,another Pakistan success story on the sporting field is unfolding. The troubled nations cricketing high at Lords has been followed by Pakistan tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshis exploits on the grass at Wimbledon. And lending a helping hand to Aisam happens to be Indias Prakash Amritraj.

After two wins,the Qureshi-Amritraj pair face their toughest task on Monday. Adding intrigue to the story is the fact that the Indo-Pak pairing will come across a familiar figure across the net Mahesh Bhupathi. Both Qureshi and Amritraj have known Bhupathi a long time,and thats the reason they think their Monday outing against the Indian and his Bahamian partner Mark Knowles will be quite tough.

Even though tennis doesnt quite enjoy the kind of fanatical following that cricket has in Pakistan,Qureshi feels his success at Wimbledon will add to the mood of optimism back home. The T20 triumph of our cricket team was a great achievement,especially since our country is going through such a crisis. If I do well here,people back home will be delighted, he says.

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Like most children in the sub-continent,Qureshi grew up playing cricket. Even after becoming a tennis professional,the Pakistan Davis Cup teams star player follows cricket. But despite being in London when Pakistan was undertaking the historic journey to the pinnacle of T20 cricket,Qureshi couldnt catch up with his friends in the cricket team. I couldnt interact with any of the cricketers as I was preparing for Wimbledon, he says.

Amritraj,too,understands the importance of this win for his partner. It is a vital match for both of us,but yes,it is special for Aisam. If we play good tennis,both of us can contribute something to our respective countries, he says.

Paes to face Bhupathi

A Mahesh Bhupathi-Leander Paes face-off is on the cards on Monday after the two,along with their respective partners,set up a third-round mixed doubles clash. Bhupathi,along with Sania Mirza,beat local pair Colin Fleming and Sarah Borwell 7-6 (4) 6-4.

Top seeds Paes and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black got a walkover from the Slovak-Italian pair of Michal Mertinak and Mara Santangelo.