International Tennis Federation (ITF) decided to organize the match in Noor Sultan instead of Islamabad on 29-30 November due to security reasons. The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has named young Huzaifa Abdul Rahman and Shoaib Khan in the team, who are ranked 446 and 1004th respectively in the junior ITF rankings. Apart from them, Yusuf Khan, Ahmed Kamil and Amjad are also in the team. Pakistan’s top players Aisam and Akeel withdrew in protest against the match being held in neutral. In such a situation, the PTF had no choice but to select junior players.
PTF President Salim Saifullah said that it could have been a good match but now we have to send junior players. Our senior players are not playing Davis Cup. Our team has 16-17 year old players who will get experience from it. He said that India wanted to win this match and could now win comfortably. Hundreds of Indians are coming to Pakistan every day for pilgrimage. Our hotels are full of Indians but only six Indians cannot come. It’s so embarrassing, he said.
He said, “Our judgment has a moral basis. It is not that you do anything and we will go and play with you. The ITF has also taken decisions against us in the past”. The winner of this match will get a chance to play the Davis Cup 2020 qualifier in which the winning team will play the World Group.
