Davis Cup: Dust settles on appeal, Indian team will have to travel to Pakistan

NEW DELHI: The ITF tribunal has rejected AITA’s contention that its Davis Cup team could face security concerns during the World Group I Play-off tie in Islamabad, paving the way for an Indian tennis team’s visit to Pakistan for the first time in 60 years.

If the Indian team fails to travel to Pakistan, the tie will be awarded to the host country and the Indian team will be relegated to World Group II.

The last time an Indian Davis Cup team travelled to Pakistan was way back in 1964 when it beat the hosts 4-0. All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary General Anil Dhupar confirmed to media that ITF has rejected their appeal.

“I have got a message that AITA’s appeal has been rejected by the ITF Tribunal. We will approach Sports Ministry on Monday and seek guidance if we will send a team,” Dhupar told media.

AITA’s request for a neutral venue was rejected by the 15-member Davis Cup Committee (DCC) and later the national federation approached the ITF Tribunal.

“The DCC’s decision to hold the tie in Pakistan has solid grounds and it is pertinent on all the nations to visit the venue (country) selected by the DCC for the Davis Cup ties,” the Tribunal said, Pakistan media reported.

AITA’s contention was that India should not be treated like other countries since the bilateral relations are tense between the two nations.

AITA had also contended that Pakistan will have its General Election on February 8, so the Indian team should not travel.

The DCC had ruled that there is no such situation in Pakistan where an Indian team cannot travel and participate in the Davis Cup tie.

Ramkumar Ramanathan, N Sriram Balaji, Yuki Bhambri, Niki Poonacha and Saketh Myneni were named in the Indian team. Digvijay Pratap Singh, who made his debut against Morocco in India’s last Davis Cup assignment in Lucknow in September, was named as a reserve player in the squad.