The All India Tennis Association is concerned over the rapidly deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan post the Indian government's decision to strip Kashmir of its special status and is all set to request the International Tennis Federation to push the upcoming Davis Cup Tie between the two neighbours to a neutral venue.
Hironmoy Chatterjee, secretary general of AITA, told THE WEEK, "Yes, there are concerns. In the sense, pre-Kashmir (decision) we had asked players to put in their visa applications as we had received the letter of invitation from Pakistan Tennis Federation and we had forwarded the same to our team members to apply from which ever country they are in presently. But post Kashmir developments situation has changed a bit. We will wait for two more days to see how the relations between two countries pan out. Thereafter, we will approach ITF for a change to neutral venue."
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Chatterjee believed that given the developments of the day which saw the airspace being cut off for Indian flights, Indian high commissioner being asked to leave Pakistan and the Samjhauta Express being stopped by Pakistan the situation was only likely to escalate further.
The Davis Cup tie between India and Pakistan is scheduled to be played in Islamabad on September 14-15. The Sports Ministry has not raised any objections till now for the Indian Davis Cup team to play in Pakistan. The Indian government has not allowed any bilateral sporting relations between the two countries so far. However, Davis Cup is International Tennis Federation's premier competition. Indian players have expressed concerns over touring Pakistan. The ITF has undertaken security surveys in Pakistan and given the all-clear for the tie to take place. But this was before the Kashmir developments of this week. Members of the Indian team have been assured full security.
Chatterjee clearly said that "security is the responsibility of the ITF" and, therefore, it will have to relook at the developments of this week. “It is not for the first time matches with Pakistan will be played on neutral venues," he added.
Communication between the two neighbouring tennis federations, however, has not stopped. Chatterjee said that till date the PTF was in touch with AITA over email and communicating regarding the upcoming Davis Cup tie. "They wanted us to tell them from which countries individually the Indian players were applying to the Pakistan embassies." However, Chatterjee is not sure whether visas will be issued now.
If India forfeit the tie, the team will be left to fight it out in Group II next year and make its way up in the following years.
Ever since cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was elected prime minister, he has been keen on the two neighbours renewing sporting ties. He has also been keen on bringing back international sports competitions to Pakistan which has been a no-go country for not just India but others too due to the internal security situation there.
