The Nepal Tennis Association (NTA) has clarified that the Davis Cup team selection was fair and transparent, addressing recent controversy surrounding player Abhishek Bastola.
According to NTA, Bastola was part of the team in 2024 due to his position within the top 2000 of the ITF rankings. However, in 2025, his ranking dropped as he did not participate in enough tournaments, making him ineligible for direct selection.
Still, the association offered him a wildcard entry to the Davis Cup selection match. Bastola, however, chose to compete in the ITF Pro tournament in Guam instead.
The selection match date had already been announced on April 26, 2025. NTA explained that the final nomination deadline was set by the ITF, leaving no room for a schedule change. “Changing the date to fit one player’s schedule would have been unfair to others,” the association said.
NTA emphasized that the decision was made strictly based on established rules and performance. In response to Bastola’s recent claims on social media, the association reaffirmed its commitment to a fair, transparent, and merit-based selection process in the future as well.
