Davis Cup: AITA writes to ITF over shifting tie; PTF President fumes

Indian national tennis team's reluctance to play in ir upcoming Davis Cup match in Pakistan's capital city of Islamab is said to have infuriated Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF). PTF chief Saifullah Khan has come down heavily on All India Tennis Association (AITA), claiming that ir Davis Cup team has ‘ intention’ of travelling to play ir Group 1 Asia/Oceania tie scheduled in vember 2019.

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Davis Cup: Tensions between India and Pakistan

Political tensions between archrivals have been escalating ever since Pulwama terror attacks in February this year. India revoking Section 370 pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir in August has also led to a breakdown in ties between two countries. Davis Cup draw was me in early February and match was originally scheduled to be playing in September. However, Indians cited 'security concerns' as ir reason for delaying match. 

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Davis Cup: AITA demand change in venue 

Earlier, AITA h written to International Tennis Federation (ITF) asking for tie to eir be shifted to a neutral venue or postponed by two months. ITF decided to postpone fixture to vember 29-30. On Monday though, AITA wrote to world governing body again asking for a change in venue, citing security concerns. Incidentally, Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Divij Sharan have expressed ir unavailability for tie in vember due to personal commitments.

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Davis Cup: PTF president say on future of tie 

Speaking to a leing daily newspaper, PTF President Salim Saifullah Khan told that India making such a move was expected as he believes that team never h any intention of travelling to Pakistan for clash. Khan ded that since match would only span across two days, Indian players going to Islamab wouldn't 'make heavens fall' as safety isn't a major issue.

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Pakistan government h earlier guaranteed safety of Indian team. He claims that India could have stuck to ir September commitment and finished playing tie. He alleged that ir counterpart are mixing politics and sports, which is unfortunate. He even suggested ban of all India-Pakistan ties inste of wasting ITF’s time.