ISLAMABAD, March 21: Coach Hameedul Haq, who was to be the non-playing captain of the Pakistan Davis Cup team for next month’s Asia Oceania Group I playoff against Japan has pulled out citing pressing personal commitments.

“I have conveyed my decision to the Pakistan Tennis Federation but have however told them that I’ll continue to coach the players in the Davis Cup camp,” Hameed told Dawn.

A lot has been happening on the tennis front in recent days and Hameed’s decision comes on the heels of ace player Aisamul Haq choosing to withdraw from the April 4 to 6 tie saying he was not fit enough.

With Aisam now out, the selectors who meet here Saturday are left to choose from among the younger players who have been brought in to replace the aging Asim Shafik and Nomi Qamar in a bold move by PTF president Syed Dilawar Abbas.

Dilawar, looking to the future, inducted junior players Shahzad Khan and Shahzad Samad Khan and announced quickly that he would add another junior in place of Aisam. “This gives me a good opportunity to try out a new player,” he told Dawn earlier in the week.

These steps taken by Dilawar drew praise from Hameed, who said that no past president of the federation has had the guts to pump in fresh blood. “Shahzad Khan, Shahzad Samad, Wasif Cheema, Inam Gul and Mehr Nisar are all talented youngsters and should serve us well in the days ahead.”

He pointed out that Asim, No 2 in national rankings and Nomi, who is No 3, had featured in Davis Cup ties for the past few years without making any significant contribution. “It has always been Aqeel and Aisam, who have done well,” he said.

Dilawar axed both Asim and Nomi following Pakistan’s whitewash by New Zealand in Hamilton last month.

Meanwhile Hameed denied he had opted not to go to Japan because the senior players were not there. “Actually I have a lot of things to take care of here and therefore I think I wouldn’t be doing justice to my job if I go with the team.”

“Aisam or no Aisam, it does not matter to me what players are given to me.”