India’s top singles players Sumit Nagal and Sasi Kumar Mukund have refused to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming away Davis Cup tie against the arch-rivals in February next year. While the duo have conveyed the decision, the reason behind it is still not known, as per a report in PTI.
The report further suggests that India’s top singles player Nagal, world no. 141, doesn’t want to play the World Group 1 Play-off tie because it would be held on grass courts, which does not suit his game. On the other hand, Mukund is out due to ‘personal reasons’.
“Nagal had conveyed to the team management long back that he should not be considered for the tie against Pakistan because the grass court is not his preferred surface,” said an AITA source. With Yuki Bhambri having retired from singles, after a spell of injuries, India will fall back on Ramkumar Ramanathan and Digvijay Pratap Singh.
AITA Unhappy With Sumit Nagal & Sasi Kumar’s Decision
AITA Secretary General Anil Dhupar is of the opinion that players should not think twice when it comes to Davis Cup and national duty. “This is wrong. When it’s a question of serving the country why would you not do it? I have put the matter in the hands of the Executive Committee,” Dhupar told PTI.
“There is no choice for players if they want to represent India. My theory is simple. But I am nobody to take a call. The call has to be taken by the Executive Committee. If the player is sick and injured, I can understand but this is not the first time that Mukund has made himself unavailable for national duty. He has done it twice,” he added.
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