India have been drawn to play Pakistan in the World Group I Play-offs. THE BIG problem though is that the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has the hosting rights for the tie. Therefore the moot point is only this. Will the All India Tennis Association be able to cajole/convince the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to move the face-off to a neutral venue, as AITA managed to do in 2019?
It bears recalling that India had similarly been drawn with Pakistan in 2019, but following much back and forth on “security concerns” raised by AITA, the ITF shifted the Asia/Oceania Group I tie to Kazakhstan.
Pakistan last week beat Indonesia 4-0 at home in the World Group II tie, played on grass courts in Islamabad with Pakistan’s veteran player Aqeel Khan winning a singles and the doubles rubber.
PTF president Salim Saifullah Khan has already declared they will host India on grass court for the tie.
With the PTF having successfully hosted Indonesia, it remains to be seen if AITA can convince the ITF to do a repeat of 2019. Rewinding to 2019, it bears recalling that as a mark of protest, Pakistan’s top players at the time – Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi and Aqeel – had opted not to play the Kazakhstan tie in which rookies Mohammed Shoaib, Huzaifa Abdul Rehman and Yousaf Khalil competed for them. India had expectedly thrashed a weak Pakistan line-up 4-0.
Aqeel told PTI that they are hoping for the Indian team to travel to their nation. “I hope they come and give us a chance to host,” the veteran, 43, said.
Echoing Aqeel, Aisam-ul-haq told the newswire, “Hopefully this time it (the tie) will be played in Pakistan.”
“They should come to Pakistan. It’s not fair that they do not come to Pakistan. The Indian team is much better than us. We have a beautiful hotel just across the stadium. If Indians come it will send a good message that we are good neighbours,” Saifullah Khan told PTI.
If India decide to travel, it will be the Davis Cup team’s first visit across the border in 59 years, and only third in the history of the team tournament. The last time an Indian Davis Cup team travelled to Pakistan was in 1964 when the visitors beat the hosts 4-0.
“We have hosted Lithuania, Slovekia, Korea, Iran, Thailand. All these countries have come and there have been no issues.
“We won’t play on a neutral venue. If India does not want to come, we will not play this tie. We will play on grass courts and the Indians are a better team. And in February-March, the weather is lovely in Islamabad,” Saifullah said.
Asked if the Indian team will travel to Pakistan, AITA secretary general Anil Dhupar told PTI, “It’s too early to comment.”
“We are yet to receive a letter from ITF. After getting that, we will seek clearance from the External Affairs Ministry like the last time,” Dhupar said from Cancun, Mexico where he has gone to attend the ITF AGM.
