The All-India Tennis Association (AITA), while announcing a five-member squad for India’s Davis Cup World Group 1 playoff tie against Pakistan on February 3-4, have made a last-ditch appeal with regards to Pakistan’s hosting rights.
In 2019, when India were drawn to play in Pakistan, the two teams played at a neutral venue in Kazakhstan, but the ITF Davis Cup committee had rejected India’s request this time around. AITA have appealed to an ITF tribunal, which is set to announce its verdict on 19th or 20th December, Indian Express reports.
Anil Dhupar, secretary general of AITA, said the Indian team intends to play the Davis Cup tie regardless of the result of the appeal, and that the federation will seek special permission from the government if the team has to travel to Pakistan.
“We’ll wait for the tribunal to take a call, but if they reject our appeal, and the government needs to be approached for permission to travel, we will do that,” Dhupar told The Indian Express. “Davis Cup isn’t an ordinary series, it is like a World Cup series, and given those circumstances, I’m confident that the government will approve. If needed, we will play in Pakistan.”
AITA, in its appeal to the ITF tribunal to reconsider the ITF Davis Cup committee’s decision to retain Pakistan as the hosts, has cited security concerns because of general elections to be held in Pakistan on February 8 just a few days after the tie.
