Ushna included in Fed Cup squad

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top female tennis player Ushna Suhail has been drafted into the Fed Cup squad as the two-week camp begins today in Lahore.

Pakistan will be represented by Suhail as well as Sara Mehboob, Sara Manzoor and Saba Aziz when the team takes part in the Thailand event next month.

Ushna was an unlikely inclusion due to an ankle injury she picked up two weeks ago. However, coach Rashid Malik and non-playing captain Nosheen Ehtesham confirmed her inclusion because her experience on the international circuit with the International Tennis Federation events can help Pakistan win matches in the prestigious tournament.

“It’s a great team and players like Suhail and Mehboob have international exposure so that can be our strength,” Malik told The Express Tribune. “There has been a lot of criticism about Suhail’s inclusion in the squad but she’s one of our best players and we can’t write her off just because she couldn’t participate in the trials earlier.”

Meanwhile, Mehboob felt that there was a lot of pressure but it was her dream to participate in the Fed Cup and the team will try and improve the country’s world ranking.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2011.