India (Commonwealth) _ Due to the purported travel ban, the Indian tennis team would be unlikely to go to Pakistan for the Davis Cup match against the latter, which is scheduled for February of next year.
Given that the Indian tennis team was awaiting permission to go to Pakistan, the Davis Cup play-off match against opponent Pakistan may have to be forfeited. This was disclosed on Thursday by the local tennis association.
Following the International Tennis Federation (ITF) tribunal’s rejection of a plea to shift the match to a third nation, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) requested permission from the sports ministry to go to Pakistan.
AITA secretary-general Anil Dhupar stated, “The proposal remains under consideration with the ministry, and we are waiting for a decision.” Salim Saifullah Khan, head of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), stated that 18 Indian players have sought for visas in preparation for the World Group 1 match that is set to take place on February 3–4.
We have made all the necessary preparations. Maximum accommodations and security will be provided for them. ” Let politics be kept away from sports, and better sense prevails” , he said.
The Indian Davis Cup squad last visited Islamabad in 1964, while the Pakistani tennis team last played in New Delhi in 2006. A 2019 match was shifted to Kazakhstan because of political unrest, according to India Today, which was reported by the AITA.
Because of decades of animosity, India and Pakistan seldom play sports together. The most popular sport in both of their nations, cricket, is the source of their intense rivalry. They typically play each other in bigger competitions, but their cricket teams haven’t played a bilateral series in more than ten years.
When India refused to come to Pakistan for the 50-over Asia Cup in September, Pakistan gave Sri Lanka the hosting privileges instead. Following the rejection of their proposal to host some matches in a third country, the Green Shirts traveled to India for the ICC World Cup 2023 the following month.
Earlier, on Tuesday, December 26, Saifullah Khan revealed the national team that would play India during a press conference.
The team that victorious in the most recent matchup with Indonesia has been kept together. The team’s playing captain will be international Aisamul Haq. Aqeel Khan, Barkatullah, Mohammad Shoaib, and Mohammad Abid are also members of the team. Proving that this is the ideal lineup for playing on the grass courts where the tie will be played, PTF EVP Khawar Hyat and SVP Saeed Khan joined Salim Saifullah in their statement.
ITF-ranked athletes Ramkumar Ramanathan, Sriram Balaji, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Niki Poonacha, and Digvijay Pratap Singh are among the Indian contingent. Ashutosh Singh, Zeeshan Ali, and captain Rohit Rajpal are among the others. Anand Kumar, Debbie Das (an official), Dr. Anil Jain (the president), and Mrs. Vandana Jain are the others.
Officials Anil Dhupar, Sunder Lyer, and Sunil Yajaman are also mentioned on the list. According to news source India Today, the Indian Davis Cup team last visited Islamabad in 1964 while the Pakistani tennis team last played in New Delhi in 2006.
According to local media sources, the AITA requested that a 2019 match be shifted to Kazakhstan, citing political difficulties as the cause. Due to the long-standing animosity between India and Pakistan, sporting events between the two countries are uncommon.
Cricket is the most popular sport in both of their nations, and they have one of the greatest rivalries in sports history. However, their teams usually only meet one another in bigger competitions and haven’t played a bilateral series in over ten years.
When India declined to go to Pakistan for the 50-over Asia Cup in September, its neighbor was compelled to partially hand over hosting responsibilities to Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s bid to hold some matches in a third nation was denied, thus the country left for India the following month to compete in the Cricket World Cup.
