NEW DELHI – India have asked the International Tennis Federation to movetheir upcoming Davis Cup tie from Pakistan to a neutral venue due toescalating political tensions between the two nations.
The Indian team are scheduled in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for theAsia/Oceania Group 1 tie to be held on September 14 and 15.
But relations between the neighbours are badly strained after India revokedthe special autonomy status of Kashmir, which the nuclear-armed rivals havefought two wars over since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
“We have asked ITF for a neutral venue because the situation is a bitunpredictable,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) president PraveenMahajan told AFP on Sunday.
“I believe it is a reasonable request because of the current state ofaffairs.”
Pakistan Tennis Federation vice president Khalid Rehmani said his countryremained ready to host the tie.
Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with India amid a military lockdownin Indian-administered Kashmir and stopped a cross-border train.
The AITA was preparing to send its team to Pakistan despite suspendedsporting ties between the two countries, but the Kashmir situation hasraised fresh doubts.
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India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbaiattacks, with authorities blaming Pakistani militants.
An Indian tennis team last toured Pakistan in 1964 for the Davis Cup, wherethey defeated the hosts 4-0.
Pakistan lost 3-2 when they toured Mumbai in 2006.
Until a few years ago, Pakistan were forced to host home Davis Cup ties atneutral venues as teams refused to travel to the South Asian nation oversecurity concerns.
India named a full-strength squad for the crucial tie with the country’shighest-ranked players in Prajnesh Gunneswaran (90) and Ramkumar Ramanathan(184) to play the four singles matches.
India have named their top tennis star Prajnesh Gunneswaran to the DavisCup squad. APP/AFP
