Because of violence and terrorism last year, Pakistan has
been stripped of its right to co-host next year’s cricket World Cup.
International tennis and field hockey federations also have been
struggling to get other teams to agree to visit the country for matches
or tournaments.But it looks like things are changing.“After what
happened in Lahore last year, it will be first time when a team of ITF
security officials will be visiting Pakistan in the coming months,”
Qureshi told said, referring to a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan
cricket team’s bus en route to a test match. “Maybe it’s because of my
speech at the US Open.” Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna, from India, reached
the final in New York but lost to Bob and Mike Bryan, the top-ranked
doubles team in the world.After the match, Qureshi spoke from the heart at Arthur Ashe Stadium and drew a standing ovation.“Every
time I come here I feel there’s a very wrong perception about Pakistan
being a terrorist country,” Qureshi said at the time. “We are very
friendly, loving and caring people and we want peace in this world as
much as you guys want. May Allah bless us all.” American tennis great
Jim Courier, who was conducting the prize ceremony, was impressed,
saying the speech was “beautiful.” But problems remain in Pakistan.
Suicide bombings have taken hundreds of innocent lives as the country
continues its fight against Al-Qaeda. The government is also struggling
to help about 20 million people after recent floods left them homeless.Now,
with the International Tennis Federation expected to make its visit,
Qureshi is hoping that Pakistan will be able to host Hong Kong in the
Davis Cup next year at Lahore.“Lahore’s Defense Club is one of the
venues and I am hopeful that if everything goes well, we will see
international teams returning to Pakistan in other sports too,” Qureshi
said.Qureshi is currently in India for the Commonwealth Games, a
multi-sports event that brings together 71 countries and territories
from the British Commonwealth. He has already been eliminated from the
singles and doubles tournaments, however.“The draws were pretty
tough here,” said Qureshi, who lost to Matt Ebden of Australia in the
second round of the singles tournament.In doubles, he and teammate Aqeel Khan lost to Australian pair Paul Hanley and Peter Luczak.“My partner had to play in the doubles just three hours after he finished his match in singles,” Qureshi said.“Probably it was asking too much from us in this heat and humidity of New Delhi.”
