“He [Aisam] brings about a confidence in the team,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI: Aqeel Khan, Pakistan’s key tennis player in the Davis Cup said that Aisamul Haq Qureshi’s absence from the squad will affect their chances of winning the first round of the Asia-Oceania Group II tie against Vietnam.
He said that Pakistan would be playing without Aisam and a reserve player this time.
Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Kaleem Imam and Patron Dilawar Abbas confirmed that the squad with only four players on Tuesday including Aqeel, Yasir Khan, Muhammad Abid and Usman Ejaz — along with the non-playing captain Muhammad Khalid.
PTF had to make the changes after Aisam excused himself from playing the tie due to his involvement in the ATP tour this month.
Aqeel said that Aisam’s absence could be costly for the team. “He brings about a confidence in the team,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune.
“Aisam and I have carried the responsibility in the singles, but more importantly in the doubles matches. We only have a 50% chance of winning now. Earlier, we could’ve finished the first round in two days.”
‘PTF needs to take better decisions’
Aqeel added that the PTF needed to take better decisions when it came to picking the squad, especially after it failed to bring in any good doubles player to replace Aisam.
“Aisam and I both agreed that Shahzad Khan should’ve been in the squad, especially for the doubles rubber,” he said.
“PTF has a process for Davis Cup trials, which is based on the players’ performance in the singles game and not the doubles format.”
The team will leave for Vietnam on February 7. The players will have a week to practice in Da Lat City, with the tie beginning on February 14.
“It’ll be tough playing on the hard court,” said the Pakistan number one. “But I believe that this can be an opportunity for the young players to prove themselves. Vietnam can be a tough competitor on their homeground.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2014.
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