“Dad would have been very proud today,” Zeeshan Ali told The Telegraph from Islamabad on Tuesday, after the All India Tennis Association announced that he will double up as the non-playing captain of the Davis Cup, apart from being the coach, for the tie against Pakistan to be held on February 2 and 3 in Islamabad.

The India Davis Cup team has travelled to Pakistan for the first time in 60 years. The last time, in 1964, Zeeshan’s father Akhtar Ali was part of the team and India had won the tie 4-0 in Lahore.

On Monday, the 10-member India squad, including five players and support staff, reached Islamabad for the World Group 1 playoff tie, to be held on the grass courts of Pakistan Sports Complex. Rohit Rajpal, the regular captain, could not travel with the side due to personal reasons.

“The weather here is very similar to what we had in Delhi, where we had a six-day conditioning camp prior to our departure. So the players are used to it. They are very confident and committed also. But there has been some rain and also forecast of rain on the days of the match,” Zeeshan said.

“But the winter chill also means we are enjoying the best of kebabs and neharis,” he added on a lighter note.

The drive from the five-star hotel where they have been put up to the venue is hardly 10 minutes. “The hospitality is great. But yes, there is a lot of security and we are being escorted to and from the ground. We can’t really go out on our own or explore the city,” he said.

Asked how it felt to be the captain of the team, Zeeshan said: “I am very happy. I have been a player, a coach and now the captain.

“Don’t think too many people achieved that. My association with the Davis Cup has been more than two decades. It is a very special moment. There is a lot of emotion involved. If Dad was here today, I am sure he would have been very proud.”

In 2019, India were scheduled to play in Pakistan but the tie was shifted to Kazakhstan, citing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. India had won 4-0.

In the absence of the country’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal and Sasikumar Mukund, world No. 463 Ramkumar Ramanathan is most likely to spearhead the Indian challenge.

“I know we don’t have our top singles players, but Ramkumar has been playing very well. He is comfortable on grass and that is an advantage. He has recently won two Challengers. It is most likely that he will play the singles, but I will take a call on that later,” the captain said.

Yuki Bhambri, who is now a full-time doubles player, might play the singles if required. The India team also has N Sriram Balaji, Niki Poonacha and Saketh Myneni.

Zeeshan did not want to call India the favourites, despite the track record. Pakistan’s challenge will be headlined by two 43-year-olds, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan.

“Both Aisam and Aqeel know our players well. They have a lot of experience, so it will not be easy. They also have the 23-year-old Muzammil Murtaza who I have heard is a good player,” Zeeshan said

“I do hope we have a good outing and we can go back home with a victory here.”.