ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is optimistic about clinching the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan which is slated to be held here in Islamabad from April 6 at the grasscourts of Pakistan Sports Complex.

PTF is going to hold two-day trials on March 18-19 to select two players who will join the already announced trio of Aisam-ul-Haq, Aqeel Khan and Muzammil Murtaza.

This time round, the PTF aims to field five players for Pakistan against Uzbekistan. It may be mentioned here that the talented Abid Ali Akbar, who represented Pakistan against South Korea last month, is not available this time.

For the trials, the PTF has asked three juniors – Shoaib Khan, Saqib Umar and Yousaf Khan - besides three senior players including Abid Mushtaq, Shahzad Khan, and Heera Ashiq to participate.

“We have called up six players for the trails and will select two of them in addition to the three already named,” said Khawar Hayat Senior, the Executive Vice President of PTF.

He said that PTF is hopeful that Pakistani team would win the tie to move into the next round of World Group play off. “Chances of our victory are very bright,” he said.

It has also been learnt that Pakistan’s seasoned player Aqeel is not fully fit as he has been suffering from shoulder and wrist injuries. However, Hayat said that Aqeel has been recovering well and would be available for the important Uzbekistan tie.

Meanwhile, in a decision taken by the PTF Executive Committee meeting the other day, Pakistan’s non-playing captain Hameed-ul-Haq has been replaced by another Davis Cupper Muhammad Khalid as the non-playing captain for the Davis Cup clash.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2018