Davis Cup | AITA asks ITF to consider ground realities over security arrangements and change venue

08/15/2019

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to look beyond the security assurances given by Pakistan and either postpone the tie or shift venue. AITA also cited past references of Davis Cup ties getting postponed or shifted owing to security concerns.

The saga of India travelling to play Pakistan for a Davis Cup tie is far from over with the Indian federation now asking the international body to take a suo moto decision and either postpone the tie scheduled in Islamabad on September 14 and 15 or change it to a neutral venue.

Stating that communication has been a problem for them of late for lack of a representative, AITA (All India Tennis Association) has stated that ITF should be going only by the official communication and not by the assured security arrangements.

“We do not have an ambassador any longer in Islamabad,” the AITA stressed, in its communication to the ITF on Wednesday.

AITA also pointed out numerical concerns highlighting the fact that the time wasn’t safe for India to visit Pakistan. They have given instances like the Pakistan air space being closed, alongside the bus and train services.

They have also referred to the incident in 2001 where the tie between India and USA had been postponed over security concerns despite India being present in North Carolina and “there was no further security threat”. The ITF had postponed the tie then, “considering the overall mood in USA”, and AITA has asked the international body to do the same this time.

“… the recent developments have resulted in an atmosphere which is not conducive for a happy friendly tie between the two teams which have immense respect for each other,” AITA’s observation read.

Apart from these, AITA has also sought a chance to interact with the ITF Board of Directors on the subject.