New Delhi: India have asked the International Tennis Federation to shift their upcoming Davis Cup tie from Pakistan to a neutral venue due to escalating political tensions between the two nations.
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The Indian team are scheduled to tour Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie to be held on September 14 and 15.
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But relations between the neighbours are badly strained after India revoked the special autonomy status of Kashmir, which the nuclear-armed rivals have fought two wars over since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
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“We have asked ITF for a neutral venue because the situation is a bit unpredictable,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) president Praveen Mahajan said on Sunday. “I believe it is a reasonable request because of the current state of affairs.”
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Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with India amid a military lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir and stopped a cross-border train.
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The AITA was preparing to send its team to Pakistan despite suspended sporting ties between the two countries but the Kashmir situation has raised fresh doubts.
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India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with authorities blaming Pakistani militants.
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An Indian tennis team last toured Pakistan in 1964 for the Davis Cup, where they defeated the hosts 4-0.
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Pakistan lost 3-2 when they toured Mumbai in 2006.
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Until a few years ago, Pakistan were forced to host home Davis Cup ties at neutral venues as teams refused to travel to the South Asian nation over security concerns.
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“I am hopeful they will shift the tie because Pakistan is used to playing in neutral venues,” Mahajan said.
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“ITF will respond to our request shortly, sometime this week.”
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Pakistan Tennis Federation president Salim Saifullah Khan had earlier said they would honour the decision of the ITF if the AITA sought a neutral venue.
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India named a full strength squad for the crucial tie with the country’s highest-ranked players in Prajnesh Gunneswaran (90) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (184) to play the four singles matches.
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