India's top two singles players Sumit Nagal and Sasi Kumar Mukund have informed the national tennis federation that they will not be participating in the upcoming Davis Cup tie in Pakistan. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is perplexed by the players' decision and has decided to address the refusal during its upcoming Executive Committee meeting.
Nagal holds the position of India's highest-ranked singles player, standing at number 141 in the ATP chart, while Mukund is the second-best at number 477.
The two players have conveyed their unavailability for the World Group I play-off tie scheduled for February. However, they have not provided details regarding the reasons behind their decision. According to PTI sources, Nagal's reluctance to participate stems from the tie being on grass courts, a surface unsuitable for his playing style. On the other hand, Mukund has opted out of the matches citing "personal reasons."
"Nagal had conveyed to the team management long back that he should not be considered for the tie against Pakistan because grass court is not his preferred surface," said an AITA source.
In the current scenario, Ramkumar Ramanathan will lead India's challenge with his 'serve and volley' style, making him the most suitable player for the tie. The winner of this match will secure a place in World Group I for the year 2024.
The next best choice for India is Digvijay Pratap Singh, who made his Davis Cup debut against Morocco in September this year.
With Rohan Bopanna having already retired and India missing their top singles player Nagal, they may not be the overwhelming favourites in the tie. This is despite Pakistan's tennis team being led by the older players Aqeel Khan and Aisam ul Haq Qureshi.
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AITA UNHAPPY WITH PLAYERS DECISION
The Secretary General of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) emphasised that players should not hesitate when it comes to fulfilling their national duties.
"This is wrong. When it's a question of serving the country why would you not do it? I have put the matter in the hands of the Executive Committee," Dhupar told PTI.
"There is no choice for players if they want to represent India. My theory is simple. But I am nobody to take a call. The call has to be taken by the Executive Committee. If the player is sick and injured, I can understand but this is not the first time that Mukund has made himself unavailable for national duty. He has done it twice," he added.
"Let the administrators of the country decide what's best for India." He suggested that the AITA might formulate a Davis Cup selection policy.
When Nagal shared his financial challenges in a PTI interview recently, he received support from various sources. Corporates stepped forward, and the DLTA provided Rs 5 lakh in assistance. India's captain Rohit Rajpal was actively working to include Nagal in the TOPS program. It remains to be seen whether Nagal's decision not to play for India will impact this effort.
INDIA STILL TRYING TO GET TIE SHIFTED
India and Pakistan were drawn to face each other in 2019. However, due to "security concerns" the Asia/Oceania Group I tie was relocated to Kazakhstan, a neutral venue. In response, Pakistan's top players Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan chose not to participate in the tie. Instead, newcomers Mohammed Shoaib, Huzaifa Abdul Rehman, and Yousaf Khalil competed for them.
India have made another attempt this time, but the Davis Cup Committee has already dismissed AITA's appeal.
"The Davis Cup Committee had rejected our proposal and we have now appealed against the decision to the tribunal. If we have to go to Pakistan, then we will go and will prepare well for the tie," Dhupar added.
Pakistan are eager to host the Indian team for the tie, and the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has affirmed that they will not participate if the contest is moved elsewhere this time. The players from Pakistan are also enthusiastic about competing on home soil against India.
"They should come to Pakistan. It's not fair that they do not come to Pakistan. The Indian team is much better than us. We have a beautiful hotel just across the stadium. If Indians come, it will send a good message that we are good neighbours," PTF President Salim Saifullah Khan had told PTI after the draw.
If India opt to go, it will mark the Davis Cup team's inaugural visit across the border in 59 years and only the third in the history of the team tournament. The most recent occasion when an Indian Davis Cup team journeyed to Pakistan was in 1964, resulting in a 4-0 victory for the visitors. The first Indian team to travel to Pakistan in 1962 was led by Ramanathan Krishan.
In contrast, Pakistan have visited India three times, and in the eight Davis Cup ties between the two countries, India have never been defeated.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
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