The most anticipated India-Pakistan Davis Cup tie will take place either on 29 and 30 November in Islamabad subject to another security review, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has said.
The review of the security situation will be on 4 November to decide if the Asia/Oceania Group I tie can take place in Islamabad or it has to be shifted to a neutral venue.
“They (ITF) have mailed us giving the dates today. They said the tie will take place subject to a clearance after the security review on November 4,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary-General Hironmoy Chatterjee told IANS.
Asked whether AITA would send the team if the tie takes place in Pakistan, given that the Sri Lankan cricket team is also not keen to tour the neighbouring country after receiving possible terror threats, Chatterjee said: “It’s too early to comment on that.”
The tie, which was originally scheduled for 14 and 15 September in Islamabad, was postponed to November by the Davis Cup committee due to security concerns.
“Following an in-depth security review of the current situation in Pakistan by independent security advisors, the Davis Cup Committee has taken the decision to postpone the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie between Pakistan and India in Islamabad, due to be played on 14-15 September,” an ITF statement had said in August.
Notably, India were all set to go to Pakistan before relations between the two countries deteriorated in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
AITA had written to the ITF to shift the venue of the tournament from Pakistan or postpone the tournament for some time.
The ITF had previously turned down India’s security concerns before finally settling for a discussion on the matter.