KARACHI A senior Pakistani official on Thursday said he hopes international tennis will return to his troubled country next year, saying a security delegation is due to assess the situation.

Pakistan was forced to play its home Davis Cup tie in New Zealand last July after the opposition refused to tour over security fears.

But Pakistan Tennis Federation president Dilawar Abbas said he hopes things will change after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) agreed to send a security team to probe the situation ahead of a scheduled tour by Hong Kong.

“I held meetings with the ITF officials in the United States last month and they have agreed to send a security team to assess the situation in Pakistan before our tie against Hong Kong next year,” Abbas told AFP.

Pakistan has become a “no go” zone for international sports teams since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore in March last year, forcing teams to refuse to tour.

Last year Pakistan played its home Davis Cup ties against Oman and Philippines in their rivals countries over security fears.

But Abbas said Pakistan needed to play on home courts to boost the profile of the game.

“We badly need to play on our home courts, to develop the game and we sincerely hope that it remains peaceful so that we can play our home ties on home courts,” said Abbas.

Pakistan is due to host Hong Kong in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II first round in March 2011.

“We hope to receive a date of the security inspection soon and we have chosen Lahore as the venue where we have accommodation available within the tennis complex,” said Abbas.

Pakistan and Hong Kong have met on four previous occasions and are locked at two victories each, although Pakistan has won the last two ties.

Pakistan suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat away against New Zealand in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II second round. -AFP