LONDON: India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran admits that being his country’s top tennis star places him under an obligation to play a Davis Cup tie against bitter rivals Pakistan.
India have been drawn to face their neighbors in Islamabad in September with a prize of being able to contest the World Group qualifiers at stake.
It will be the first time India have played a Davis Cup tie in Pakistan in 55 years.
“I think I will play although it is still to be discussed as we have the option to go now,” said the 29-year-old at Wimbledon on Monday.
“If I want to stay in the top 100 then those two weeks make an impact but playing for my country is very special and I want to do everything to do that.
“If I had been number four or five in India I would be jumping at the chance.
“Nothing should change being number one.”
The long-running political tension between the nuclear-armed India and Pakistan spiked in February over Kashmir, which both countries have fought two wars over since the territory was divided in 1947.
A deadly suicide attack — claimed by a militant group based in Pakistan — in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 40 Indian troops.
In response, India staged its first air attack on Pakistani territory in decades, with Pakistan responding a day later.
Despite those tensions, India were cleared to make the trip across the border as the Davis Cup is not a part of a bilateral series.
When India last played in Pakistan in Lahore in 1964 they won 4-0.
They won on home ground in Mumbai in 2006 while their third meeting in the tournament in 1973 had to be played on neutral territory.
On Monday, Gunneswaran made his Wimbledon debut but was defeated 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-2 by 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic of Canada.
His progress to the All England Club has come late in his career following a battle with stress fractures in both knees which left him without a ranking in 2015.
Those physical problems are a thing of the past as is his bizarre decision to once incorporate the name of two-time major winner Pat Rafter into his personal email address.
“I was a big fan of his when I was younger so I created an email ID with his name,” explained the world number 94.
“I never used it for official purposes but some people in my school still have it.”
On Monday, Gunneswaran insisted that his clash with big-serving Raonic, the 15th seed, had been decided by small margins.
“There were a few lapses in concentration and they determined the match. I had chances but didn’t convert.
“I gave him early leads in the second and third sets and they were the killers.”
'Special to play Davis Cup in Pakistan', says India’s top player
'Special to play Davis Cup in Pakistan', says India’s top player
- It will be the first time India have played a Davis Cup tie in Pakistan in 55 years
- Despite tensions, India were cleared to make the trip across the border
PCB sets Feb. 11 as date for player auction for Pakistan Super League 11th edition
- The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and a maximum of 20
- The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced that the player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held on Feb. 11, setting the stage for franchises to begin assembling squads for the country’s premier Twenty20 tournament.
The development came after a workshop regarding PSL player auction at the Qaddafi Stadium, which was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and PSL CEO Salman Naseer.
The workshop was attended by PSL officials, all eight franchise representatives, members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, PCB officials and other capped players.
“The HBL PSL management shared a detailed presentation on the mechanics of the retention and the auction process and consulted with all the participants,” the PCB said.
“It was agreed that the HBL PSL player auction will take place on Wednesday, 11 February.”
The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and maximum of 20 players per franchise. The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size, according to the PCB.
It would be mandatory for the franchises to play minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players in the playing XI. The teams are also required to have minimum of two uncapped Under 23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
Players either retained or picked in the auction will be engaged for two-year contracts with their respective franchise teams, the board said, adding that franchise teams will be able to retain a maximum of seven players for the 12th edition of the tournament.
“I’m delighted that a consultative and productive session was held between the franchises, players and management today resulting in informed and strategic decisions which will pave the way for bright future for the HBL PSL,” Naqvi said.
“The Player Auction model is a landmark step for the HBL PSL, offering players better financial opportunities through an increased salary purse and a transparent acquisition process, while making the league more competitive and attractive.”
PSL CEO Naseer said the player auction system modernizes player recruitment by promoting fairness, transparency, and market-driven value, strengthening the PSL’s appeal for both players and franchises.
“Today’s workshop saw all views being taken into consideration and this rich feedback will be reflected in our execution of a successful player auction scheduled next month,” he said.
PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team. The 11th edition of the league is set to begin from Mar. 26 while the final is expected to be played on May 3, as per the PCB’s schedule.
