By: KeerthiMohan
India have asked the International Tennis Federation to move their upcoming Davis Cup tie from Pakistan to a neutral venue due to escalating political tensions between the two nations.
The Indian team are scheduled in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie to be held on September 14 and 15.
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.
“We have asked ITF for a neutral venue because the situation is a bit unpredictable,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) president Praveen Mahajan told AFP on Sunday.
“I believe it is a reasonable request because of the current state of affairs.”
Pakistan Tennis Federation vice president Khalid Rehmani said his country remained ready to host the tie.
Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with India amid a military lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir and stopped a cross-border train.
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.
India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with authorities blaming Pakistani militants.
An Indian tennis team last toured Pakistan in 1964 for the Davis Cup, where they 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 at neutral venues as teams refused to travel to the South Asian nation over security concerns.
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.
