(Sports News) Ramkumar Ramanathan has been selected for a five-member squad in preparation for the grass court challenge against Pakistan. This signals India’s intention to play on Pakistani soil for the first time in 60 years. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) awaits the ITF tribunal’s decision on its appeal regarding security concerns for travel to Pakistan. The last time India visited Pakistan was in 1964, resulting in a 4-0 victory. India has never lost to Pakistan in eight Davis Cup ties between the nations. Ramkumar Ramanathan, known for his serve and volley game style suited for grass surfaces, will lead the team, consisting of N Sriram Balaji, Yuki Bhambri, Niki Poonacha, and Saketh Myneni.
The AITA has named this lineup for the World Group I play-off tie scheduled for February 3-4. The team’s singles players are Ramkumar and the 2019 national champion, while the other three specialize in doubles on the ATP Tour. Captain Rohit Rajpal may assign Bhambri or Balaji to play singles. Reserve player Digvijay Pratap Singh, who debuted in India’s last Davis Cup match against Morocco in September, is also part of the squad. Key players Sumit Nagal and Sasikumar Mukund withdrew from the tie. The ITF Davis Cup Committee rejected India’s request to relocate the tie to a neutral venue, prompting an appeal.
The ITF tribunal is expected to decide on December 19. If the appeal is rejected, Ramkumar will travel to Pakistan. AITA Secretary General Anil Dhupar mentioned that the government is likely to grant permission for travel as it is a significant tennis event. The team announcement was made to provide players with adequate time to plan their ATP engagements. In 2019, India was drawn to meet Pakistan in Pakistan, but the tie was moved to Kazakhstan upon AITA’s request, resulting in a 4-0 victory for India. The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has stated that it will not field a team if the ITF decides to relocate the tie to a neutral venue again.
