India Announce Six-member Squad for Davis Cup Tie Against Hosts Pakistan
News 18Ramkumar Ramanathan was on Sunday named in a five-member squad for the grass court challenge against Pakistan — a clear sign that an Indian Davis Cup side is preparing to play on Pakistan soil for the first time in 60 years even as AITA awaits ITF tribunal’s decision on its appeal against travel to neighbouring nation on security concerns. Ramkumar, whose serve and volley game style suits the grass surface, will lead the squad that includes N Sriram Balaji, Yuki Bhambri, Niki Poonacha and Saketh Myneni as All India Tennis Association on Sunday named the team for the February 3-4 World Group I play-off tie. Asked if the government will grant the Indian squad permission to travel to Pakistan, Dhupar said,”It’s a World Cup of tennis and the government is likely to allow travel in this case.” “Only one month is left for the tie and the selected players need to know the schedule so that they can plan their ATP engagements, that’s why we have announced the team. Whether we are asked by ITF to travel to Pakistan or we go to a neutral venue is a different matter, the team had to be picked.” India were drawn to meet Pakistan in Pakistan in 2019 also but the ITF had moved the tie to Kazakshtan on AITA’s request and India emerged winner with an emphatic 4-0 margin.