ISLAMABAD, March 29: A new-look Pakistan Davis Cup party is due to leave for Tokyo on Sunday to compete in the Asia Oceania Group I playoff against Japan.
Pakistan have little chance of winning the April 4 to 6 tie in the city of Toyota and Syed Dilawar Abbas, the president of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) bravely conceded that. “We have a new team and therefore we are not pinning a lot of hopes on them; I see only a 30 to 35 percent chance of their winning.”
The squad has three new-comers in Shahzad Khan, Shahzad Samad Khan and Inam Gul along with the tried and tested Aqeel Khan.
Pakistan dropped the experienced Asim Shafik and Nomi Qamar for the tie while ace Aisamul Haq withdrew - the official reason being he was not fit enough.
The team has Muhammad Khalid as the non-playing captain with Rao Iftikhar the manager.