Mumbai - India's Davis Cup hopes may take a dive if a sports ministry directive to bar non-citizens from playing for the country takes effect.

The order would prevent players who now have American citizenships from playing for the mother country. Among those most affected would be Prakash Amritraj, 25, California-based son of former great Vijay Amritraj.

"Players who are Indian citizens only can avail themselves of government assistance to represent the country in the national teams representing the country," read a statement from the sports ministry.

The younger Amitraj has played for five years for India despite being born near Los Angeles where his father once carved out a film career.

The ban would also prevent him from playing in the Olympics or Asian Games. India lost a World Group play off this season to Romania in Bucharest and remains in the Asian zonal division of the worldwide team competition.

Three women player, Sunitha Rao, Shikha Uberoi and Neha Uberoi, also fall under the ban since that trio hold US passports. (dpa)