If needed, we will play in Pakan says AITA secretary general after team selection | Tennis News

The All-India Tennis Association (AITA) announced a five-member squad for India’s Davis Cup World Group 1 playoff tie against Pakan on February 3-4, the clearest indication so far that the team intends to travel to Pakan for the first time in 60 years, despite ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Ramkumar Ramanathan is set to lead the team for the tie that will be held on the grass courts of Islamabad alongside doubles specials N Sriram Balaji, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni and Niki Poonacha. Digvijay Pratap Singh, who made his Davis Cup debut against Morocco in the World Group 2 tie in Lucknow in September, has been named as the reserve.
In 2019, when India were drawn to play in Pakan, the two teams played at a neutral venue in Kazakhstan, but the ITF Davis Cup committee had rejected India’s request for the same this time around. AITA have appealed to an ITF tribunal, which is set to announce its verdict on 19th or 20th December.
Anil Dhupar, secretary general of AITA, said the Indian team intends to play the Davis Cup tie regardless of the result of the appeal, and that the federation will seek special permission from the government if the team has to travel to Pakan.
“We’ll wait for the tribunal to take a call, but if they reject our appeal, and the government needs to be approached for permission to travel, we will do that,” Dhupar told The Indian Express. “Davis Cup isn’t an ordinary series, it is like a World Cup series, and given those circumstances, I’m confident that the government will approve. If needed, we will play in Pakan.”
Earlier this year, the Indian bridge team travelled to Lahore for the Bridge Federation of Asia and Middle-East Championships (BFAME) where they won four golds to ensure qualification for the World Championships.
Dhupar added that the possibility of playing on Pakan’s grass courts were kept in mind while announcing the team. With less than two months to go for the tie, he said the players needed prior notice to manage their schedules. “The team has been picked whether or not our appeal is accepted,” he said.
Ramanathan is expected to be the lead singles player, but either reserve Digvijay or Bhambri (who has not been an active singles player for long due to injury issues) may be called upon as the second singles player. Both India No. 1 Sumit Nagal and Sasikumar Mukund, who both played singles rubbers against Morocco in Lucknow, made themselves unavailable for the tie last month itself. According to news reports, both players cited “family reasons” as the motive behind pulling out.
“My opinion is that no player should refuse to play for the country. No player should say no when approached to represent India. But ultimately, it’s their call. We have named a strong team, so we will not focus on who won’t play,” Dhupar said.
India’s last Davis Cup tie in Pakan was a 4-0 win way back in 1964. After ties against Norway and Denmark, each of whom had top 10 players in their squads, India were demoted to the World Group 2 stage. Favourable ties against lower-ranked teams – first with Morocco, and now with Pakan – should aid them in getting back into World Group 1, even if they are without their best players.