India asks ITF to relocate Davis Cup tie

New Delhi: Indian tennis players want their Davis Cup tie against Pakistan moved away from Islamabad over safety fears, a top official said Tuesday.

India are scheduled to play the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie in the Pakistani capital on Sept.14 and 15.

But tensions between the neighbours have grown since India revoked the special autonomy status of Kashmir, which the nuclear-armed rivals have fought over since gaining independence in 1947.

Pakistan has frozen diplomatic ties and halted travel between the two countries. The All India Tennis Association said it has sought a meeting with the International Tennis Federation to force a change of venue.

“Mahesh Bhupathi, the Indian captain, has spoken to me. It is very concerning for the players to participate under such circumstances. They are looking for a remedy to play elsewhere,” AITA secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee said.

“We have told the ITF that the Indian ambassador has been sent back, diplomatic relations have been downgraded, airspace over Pakistan for Indian flights has been stopped, road and train connection is stalled.

The ITF said in a statement that it was satisfied with Pakistan’s security plan for the event.

“We are working closely with the host nation and independent expert security advisors -- the ITF is satisfied with their current security assessment of the site and the security plan in place,” the world body said.

“The overall security risk rating for Pakistan has not changed, however, we will continue to monitor the situation closely with our advisors.”

On Monday, India’s sports minister Kiren Rijiju said the government would not prevent the team from playing the Davis Cup tie in Pakistan as it was not a bilateral series and was organised by a world body.

India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after deadly attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that authorities blamed on Pakistani militants, with just one limited-overs tour in 2012-13.

An Indian tennis team last played a Davis Cup tie in Pakistan in 1964, when they beat the hosts 4-0. Pakistan lost 3-2 when they played in Mumbai in 2006.

Until recently, Pakistan has been forced to host Davis Cup ties at neutral venues as teams refused to travel to the South Asian nation over security concerns.

Chatterjee said: “We wrote a letter to the ITF seeking a review of the security situation in Islamabad. In that, we have also sought time to have a telephonic conversation within this week so that we can make them understand the ground situation prevailing at present between India and Pakistan.

“The ITF does not understand the ground situation which is currently prevailing after the Aug.5 development. No player from our country can go to Pakistan and play in such a situation. We will wait for their reply and then take an action accordingly,” he added.

Earlier, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) chief Salim Saifullah Khan had said that tensions between the two countries have increased and that they will respect whatever decision the ITF takes.

If the tie takes place as per the schedule, India will travel to Pakistan to compete in a Davis Cup fixture after 55 years.

Agencies