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Source: Reuters -
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New Zealand will now be hosting the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan in July.
New Zealand was to play the second round of the Asia/Oceania Davis Cup Tie in Pakistan, after New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka and Pakistan got past Hong Kong.
However, continued security concerns have led the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to overturn the usual hosting schedule - the tie will now be played in New Zealand, at a venue still to be decided.
Last week, Tennis New Zealand had approached the ITF with this request - or at least for the option of a neutral venue - but at that stage the Pakistan Association was still wanting to host the tie.
A letter to the Pakistan and New Zealand Tennis Association, from the ITF Davis Cup Committee said: "However, 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 will now be looking for a suitable venue for the tie. The venue will be confirmed by April.
Recent Davis Cup ties hosted in New Zealand have been 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, in association with Greymouth Petroleum, will be announced in mid-June.
