Si Yew Ming will lead the national Davis Cup team in the Asia/Oceania Group III event in Sri Lanka on June 15-19.
Joining him are former Sukma champion Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam, Nazim Khan and Ahmad Deedat Abd Razak. The four players were selected after a short training stint on clay in Senayan, Jakarta.
Deen Heshaam Tan Abdullah, who has been named as the team captain, decided on the team.
Yew Ming, who has been dominant in the local circuit, will be counted on to deliver points in the Group III event, which is on clay. Ariez Elyaas is making only his second Davis Cup appearance while the rest are first-timers.
Despite selecting an inexperience squad, Deen Heshaam, in a recent interview with Timesport, is confident the team will earn promotion.
The tournament will see eight countries Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and host Sri Lanka fighting it out for promotion to the Group II in 2012.
The teams will be divided into two groups. The top two in each group will then play in a new promotion round robin which will culminate with the two highest placed nations being promoted to Group II.
The bottom two teams in each group in the first stage will contest in a new relegation round robin pool which will end with the bottom two teams being relegated to Group IV in 2012.
According to local observers, LTAM has taken a risk by opting an untested squad for the Davis Cup III event.
“It will be tough for them to earn promotion. In fact, it would be an achievement if they stay in Group III. I think the team will be fighting to avoid relegation. Kuwait are favourites,” said a former Davis Cup player.
The teams
Kuwait – Abdullah Maqdas, Mohammad Guareeb, Ali Guareeb, Hasan Almousa, Abdul Redha and A.H. Ashatti (captain).
Lebanon – Bassam Beidas, Giovani Samaha, Karim Alayli, Patrick Chicri and Hussein Badreddine (captain).
Malaysia – Si Yen Ming, Ariez Elyas Deen Heesham, Mohamed Nazim Khan, Mahmud Khan, Ahmad Deedat Abdul Razak and Deen Heshaam Tan Abdullah (captain).
Myanmar – Aung Kyaw Naing, Phyo Min Thar, Nge Hnaung, Zaw Zaw Latt and Min Min (captain).
Oman – Mohammed Al Nabhani, Khalid Al Nabhani, Abdullah Mohamed Ibrahim Al Balushi, Khalid Hamdi Hilal Al-Barwani and Siddiq Al Hashmi (captain).
United Arab Emirates – Omar Khaled Hashem, Bahrouzyan Awadhi, Mohamed Nader Ali Baloushi, Hamad Abbas Janahi and Mohamoud Khalifa AlBalushi (captain).
Vietnam – Thanh Trung Hoang, Quan Do Minh, Le Quoc Khanh. Huy Ngo Quang and Truong Quoc Bao (captain).
Sri Lanka – Harshana Godamanne, Oshada Wijemanne, Thangarajah Dineshkanthan, Vimuktha de Alwis, Rajeev Rajapakse and Asiri Iddamalgoda (captain)
* team list picked up from www.ltam.org.my
Ends
