The Free Press Journal

Nagal,Ramkumarco­nfirmplayi­ngagainstP­akistan

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

India's best singles players Sumit Nagal and Ramkumar Ramanathan are set to be named in the Davis Cup squad for the tie against Pakistan after confirming their availabili­ty for the matches on November 29-30 at a neutral venue.

Nagal, who has played his best tennis this season, sent a confirmati­on to the All India Tennis Associatio­n (AITA) on Thursday night while Ramkumar had conveyed his availabili­ty a few days ago.

"Sumit has sent an email confirming his availabili­ty after new captain Rohit Rajpal spoke to him," an AITA official said.

With both Nagal and Ramkumar now available, India will have its best singles players taking on Pakistan.

Prajnesh Gunneswara­n, who is India's best-ranked player, is unavailabl­e since he is getting married on the first day of the tie.

For the doubles rubber, veteran Leander Paes will make one half of the Indian team. The AITA took the decision after the seasoned campaigner made himself available without any condition when others refused to travel to Pakistan.

It will be Paes' first tie since winning the record-shattering doubles match with Rohan Bopanna during the China tie.

The 46-year-old became the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup when he won his 43rd match.

It will be interestin­g to see if Bopanna will be approached and asked for his availabili­ty after publicly lashing out at the national federation for removing non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi.

Skipper Rohit Rajpal has said that he is keen to field the best possible team and it has been learnt that he is in favour of having Bopanna in the side.

"Rohit is keen to have Bopanna in side but he has to agree to play with Paes," said a source who is privy to the discussion­s in AITA on the issue.

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