Former Wimbledon winner Pat Cash is demanding answers over Tennis Australia’s Davis Cup captaincy appointment.

It was announced on Thursday that Wally Masur would take over the key post on an interim basis following Pat Rafter’s resignation, as Australia started to prepare for their first-round tie against the Czech Republic in April.

As part of Thursday’s announcement, Lleyton Hewitt was confirmed as Australia’s Davis Cup captain-in-waiting.

Rafter stood down as skipper to formally assume the role as Tennis Australia’s director of performance and said Hewitt would succeed interim captain Masur “when the time is right and ready”.

Cash and Paul McNamee, Davis Cup teammates in Australia’s memorable triumphs over Sweden in 1983 and 1986, were both unhappy with the process that led to Masur’s appointment.

“Happy for my old mate Wally Masur but can someone at #tennisaustralia please explain the procedure for the Aus DC captain nomination,” outspoken Cash posted on Twitter.

“Yet again it appears there was no application process,no transparency,no player discussion, no outsiders, just the secret hand shake.”

McNamee retweeted Cash’s comments, adding that he would have been interested in the applying for the position.

“Yes @TheRealPatCash nothing against Wally who’s board member of Tennis Australia but you and a few of us would have liked to put our hand up.”

Hewitt plans to bypass the French Open to focus on one last last crack at Wimbledon and Davis Cup glory before ending his celebrated career at next year’s Australian Open.