Davis Cup Squad for Oman tie named
LAHORE, Feb 16: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has announced a four-member team for next month’s Davis Cup Group-II tie against Oman.
The tie, from March 6 to 8, was to be held in Pakistan but was shifted to Oman by the ITF due to security concerns. It will be held from March 6 to 8.
PTF President Dilawar Abbas, while announcing the team on Monday, said that the squad included top seed Aisam-ul-Haq, Aqeel Khan, Jalil Khan and Yasir Khan. Jibran Mohammadi, he added, was the reserve player. Rashid Malik and Zahid Zafar will also accompany the squad as non-playing captain and manager, respectively.
Dilawar said that the team was selected after holding five-day trials at the Bagh-i-Jinnah course. He said both top seed Aisam and Aqeel were exempted from the trials. In all six players appeared for trials of which Jalil and Yasir were selected.
Dilawar further said that the PTF had already protested over ITF’s decision of shifting the tie from Pakistan to Oman, since they had not received any security concerns from Oman.
He said the PTF would ask ITF for compensation worth $60,000, which is the loss suffered by Pakistan due to the shift.
He said that they were sending all the necessary proofs to the ITF to build a strong case in this connection.