Sumit Nagal, India’s top singles tennis player, has decided to not participate in the Davis Cup tie between India and Pakistan scheduled in February 2024 in Pakistan, leaving officials in the All India Tennis Association (AITA) unhappy. It is learnt that Mukund Sasikumar, the India No. 2 in singles, too will not travel.

After beating Morocco in the World Group II home tie in Lucknow in September, India were drawn with Pakistan for the 2024 World Group I play-offs, the winner of which will remain in World Group I next year. The tie is scheduled in Pakistan.

Nagal — who has surged in the ATP rankings this year from below 500 to 141 currently — said he has chosen to give the tie a miss for a couple of reasons, which include safety and having a shot at qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I spoke to my family and coaches and they don’t feel comfortable with the idea of me going to Pakistan because of the safety concerns,” Nagal said on Friday.

“Secondly, my goal is to represent and win a medal for India at the 2024 Paris Olympics. For that, I need to be at a certain rank by June to qualify for the Olympics. And I will have to miss 2-3 crucial weeks on the Tour to participate in this Pakistan tie, which will hamper my chances of qualifying for the Olympics,” he added.

However, AITA are not pleased with players picking and choosing Davis Cup ties as per their schedules and objectives.

“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,” AITA secretary general Anil Dhupar told PTI.

According to PTI, Mukund, ranked 477, has opted out because of personal reasons. It means India may send an inexperienced squad of players to Pakistan, especially with Rohan Bopanna having played his last Davis Cup game in Lucknow.

That said, India enjoy a 7-0 Davis Cup record against Pakistan. The last time the two teams met, in 2019 in Kazakhstan, India bossed them 4-0 with Nagal winning both his singles matches. That tie was also scheduled to be held in Pakistan but was shifted to a neutral venue. This time, the Pakistan Tennis Federation has made it clear that it will not play the tie unless it is held in Pakistan.