Karachi: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) ruled out Sunday shifting of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group-1 tie against India to be played in Islamabad September 14-15 to a neutral venue.
PTF chief Saleem Saifullah told this agency that the federation was making all the preparations to host the tie at the Islamabad Sports Complex.
“We are sticking to our original programme of hosting the tie on 14-15 September and I don’t see any problem or reason for the Indian team to feel unsafe to come to Islamabad,” Saifullah said.
The escalating tension between the two countries in the aftermath of Indian government’s scrapping of Article 370 which had accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir has made the tie uncertain.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has said it will ask the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to move the Davis Cup tie to a neutral venue.
Saifullah however, said that the Indian tennis team will be perfectly safe in Pakistan and will be well looked after.
“They will stay for four days in Islamabad which is a safe city. We have made top-level security arrangements for them at their hotel and at the venue. So what is the problem for them to play in Islamabad? If they want, we will not even have spectators for the tie,” Saifullah informed.
Saifullah said the ITF has not yet contacted the PTF on shifting the tie to a neutral venue. He said the tie was very important for Pakistan in terms of promoting tennis in the country and earning revenues.
The AITA had confirmed Saturday that it will approach ITF, seeking a neutral venue for the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan, saying it’s not an ‘unreasonable request’ considering the escalating tension between the two nations.
“It’s now up to the ITF. They will put it before the Davis Cup committee but it’s likely that they will accept our request. We are not making an unreasonable request, it’s genuine. In current circumstances, it is not conducive to play there (Pakistan),” said AITA secretary-general Hiranmoy Chatterjee.
PTI