Davis Cup: ITF nominates Nur-Sultan as neutral venue for India vs Pakistan tie
Kazkahstan's capital Nur-Sultan will host the Davis Cup tie between India and Pakistan later this month after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rejected an appeal against the switch to a neutral venue.
The International Tennis Federation has rejected Pakistan’s appeal against the decision to move its Davis Cup tie with India to a neutral venue and the fixture will be played in Nur-Sultan the capital of Kazakhstan, the Indian tennis association (AITA) announced.
The Asia/Oceania Group I tie, originally scheduled for Sept. 14-15, was postponed by the governing body to Nov. 29-30 following a security review amid political tensions between the bitter neighbors.
Earlier this month, the ITF accepted India’s request to shift the tie away from Islamabad but Pakistan appealed.
“The ITF has informed us that Pakistan’s appeal has been rejected and the tie will be held at Astana (renamed Nur-Sultan) in Kazakhstan,” AITA General Secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee said.
The ITF decision has not gone down well in Pakistan, with leading player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi deciding to skip the tie in protest.
“The attitude towards Pakistan of both All Indian Tennis Association and ITF is highly deplorable, to say the least,” Qureshi wrote in a letter to Pakistan Tennis Federation chief Salim Saifullah Khan.
“There is absolutely no threat foreseen for Indian tennis team in Pakistan.” Aisam added.
Qureshi cited the agreement, which introduced visa-free access from India to the Pakistani town of Kartarpur.
“If everyone else can come including hundreds of other Indians every day then why can’t a few member Indian tennis team visit Pakistan when Pakistan has assured them of extremely high level security protocol,” he said on his Instagram.
“However, if ITF does not correct their wrong decision then as a protest against this unjust, unfair and biased decision I want to raise my voice and hereby announce not to participate in this tie if it takes place outside Pakistan.”
India will be without top singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who is getting married during the tie, while doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna has pulled out due to a shoulder injury.
