March 13, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 9, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 12: Pakistan coach Hameedul Haq on Wednesday refused to comment on the omission of Asim Shafik and Nomi Qamar from the Davis Cup team.

“It is a decision of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, therefore, I cannot comment on this subject,” he said when approached by Dawn.

Asim, ranked No 2 and Nomi who is No 3 in national ranking, were both dropped from the Davis Cup team for the April 4 to 6 Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group I playoff against Japan.

In their place Shahzad Samad Khan and Shahzad Khan were brought in to join Aisamul Haq and Aqeel Khan.

PTF officials said the two players had been axed for their “below par” performance in last month’s Davis Cup tie against New Zealand in Hamilton where Pakistan were blanked 5-0.

But Hameed said that the selected squad, which is into its fifth day of camp training at the PTF Complex, was expected to do well in Japan.

Outlining the daily training schedule of the boys, he said that trainer Akhtar Mohiuddin imparts physical training for two hours in the morning followed by a two hour coaching session conducted by former Davis Cup player Mushaf Zia.

The evening training under the watchful eyes of Hameed himself is a three-hour affair.