LAHORE, Sept 10: Pakistan tennis squad left for Chile on Saturday where they are to compete in the important Davis Cup Group-I tie against hosts Chile from Sept 23 to 25. The five-member squad comprsing three players Aqueel Khan, Aasim Shafik and Shahzad Khan, one non-playing captain Mohammad Khalid and the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) secretary Major Rashed left for Chile from Islamabad.

Aisamul Haq Qureshi is to leave on Sept 15 or 16 as he is nursing a shoulder injury.

The PTF president Senator Dilawar Abbas and senior vice president of the federation Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar are also scheduled to leave for Chile, making it a party of nine, including four players and five officials. But surprisingly, no doctor is going with the team.

In the previous Davis Cup ties held in Pakistan the PTF had been hiring the services of Dr Meesaq Rizvi.

Aisam had been facing injury problems during the Davis Cup ties and he was all praise for Meesaq for making him fit.

The PTF had taken the passport of Dr Meesaq about a month ago but did not inform him if he had been included in the touring party or not.

The PTF has decided to hire the services of a doctor in Chile.

A win will mark a historical moment in Pakistan’s tennis history as Pakistan will qualify for the World Zone for the first time.