March 23, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1428

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KARACHI, March 22: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has come out with a novel idea by preferring a veteran over a promising player while naming a four-member Davis Cup squad for the Asia Oceania Zone group II relegation round away tie against Pacific Oceania slated from April 7 to 9.

Hameedul Haq will accompany the team as ‘playing captain’ at the expense of Yasir Khan who only last month represented the country against Philippines as Pakistan got 4-1 drubbing.

Shahzad Khan of Faisalabad has also staged a comeback after a long layoff in place of regular member Asim Shafik who has pulled out citing domestic problems. The former played his last Davis Cup tie against Chile in 2005.

The other two members are country’s No 1 Aqeel Khan and brother Jalil Khan. The team was named by chairman of selectors, PTF, Saeed Hai, here on Thursday as the players were undergoing dills in Islamabad.

The team sans tennis ace Aisamul Haq who has again expressed regret and preferred to play circuit abroad rather then representing the country. He had opted to stay away from the Philippines tie also.

“Yasir would be sent to ITF juniors’ circuit said a source when asked the reason why he (Yasir) was axed”.

Aqeel edged past Shahzad Khan in three straight sets in the best of five final of Punjab Governor’s Cup played at Faisalabad on Sunday. The scores were 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

Rain affected the training schedule of players for the last two days as they reached Islamabad on Monday. The practice commenced on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Aqeel Khan has criticised the games controlling body for dropping his younger brother Yasir without any valid reason.

“On one hand the PTF was making claims of promoting juniors on the other they (PTF) have ignored a talented player,” he said.

He further informed that Punjab Tennis Association was sending their juniors to India soon on a training trip.

To a question he was confident that Pakistan would beat Pacific Oceania to retain a place in group II. The reversal will relegate them to group III.