THE INDIAN DAVIS CUP team wants the tie against Pakistan in Islamabad next month to be shifted to a neutral venue and is baffled that the national federation has merely asked for a security re-check so far, a newswire PTI report said.
After repeatedly making statements that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) will seek a neutral venue, its general secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee surprisingly sought just a security re-check from the International Tennis Federation.
It left the players and the team management disappointed and after discussing the matter among themselves, they have decided to approach the federation.
“We have asked AITA to request for a neutral venue,” said India captain Mahesh Bhupathi.
The AITA said it would go ahead with the visa formalities for the tie if the September 14-15 clash is cleared by the ITF following a fresh security check.
Sports minister Kiren Rijijiu on Monday said that since the Asia Oceania Group 1 tie is not a bilateral series and the world body is involved in hosting of the Davis Cup, they can’t stop tennis players from travelling to Pakistan.
“We understand that the Olympic charter does not allow government interference but this is a question of lives of the players. The government always jumps in when Indian citizens are trapped abroad and try to ensure their safe passage back to country,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
