Philippines wants Pakistan tie moved to Manila

MANILA // The Philippines' tennis authorities have asked Davis Cup organisers to move the July regional play-off against Pakistan from Lahore to Manila due to fears of their players being attacked. The Philippine Lawn Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva cited the March 3 attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers in Lahore, which killed six police officers and a driver and injured several players, as evidence of the risk for sports teams visiting Pakistan.

"We asked them to be moved here to the Philippines because of the safety of our players and because of recent events in Pakistan, especially the cricket team of Sri Lanka getting attacked," Villanueva told the Associated Press. Three of the five Filipino players, including Cecil Mamiit, are dual US-Philippine citizens who Villanueva feared may be targeted because of their American passports. The association was awaiting a response from the International Tennis Federation, which shifted last week's Pakistan-Oman tie to Muscat from its original venue in Lahore.

The July 10-12 tie is a Asia/Oceania Group Two second-round fixture, with the winner progressing to a further play-off against either New Zealand or Indonesia in September, with the ultimate winner being promoted to regional Group One for 2010. *AP