Kolkata: The London-based International Tennis Federation (ITF) has taken note of the fast-deteriorating bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, which could affect the scheduled Davis Cup tennis tie between the countries scheduled for September.
“We received a communication from the ITF, which talked about media reports over the past few days. As we speak, the situation is not conducive for our Davis Cup team to travel to Pakistan next month. It’s volatile,” Hiranmoy Chatterjee, secretary-general of the All India Tennis Association told ThePrint Friday.
“However, not wanting to rush matters, we have informed the ITF that we will convey our views Saturday. Our job is to place the facts before them and, as things are, request that the 14-15 September Group I Asia/Oceania tie be moved from Islamabad to a neutral venue.
“The players have left it to us to take a call and, naturally, no step would be taken which doesn’t allow them to perform at their best.”
Asked if the AITA had been in contact with either the Ministry of External Affairs and/or the sports ministry, Chatterjee replied: “Not after the most recent developments. We will tap on the relevant doors once we have the ITF’s response to our communication, which is to follow. It has a protocol in place and we respect that.”
It is understood that no player or member of the support staff is, in the circumstances, applying for visas. It’s all about waiting for the ITF’s answer once the AITA’s communication has gone.
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There is a precedent
A review by the ITF would have to be undertaken by its Davis Cup committee. Fixtures have, indeed, been held at neutral venues. In fact, two years after the 1971 War, India and Pakistan faced off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with India winning 4-0.
Recently, India’s non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi did raise concerns which were addressed by the AITA. But that was before the Jammu & Kashmir-related developments this week.
Since then, relations between the countries have nosedived. Wednesday’s headline-grabbing India-specific measures announced by the Imran Khan-helmed government of Pakistan haven’t helped one bit.
The last time that India’s Davis Cuppers travelled to Pakistan was over half-a-century ago. Akhtar Ali, who has worn many hats, was a member of the team which won in Lahore in 1964. His son, Zeeshan, is the Davis Cup coach at this point in time.
“We were received well and played exceptionally well too, winning 4-0. It got dark, so there was no time to play the fifth rubber,” octogenarian Akhtar said, who added that he wouldn’t like to comment on the present situation.
Relevance of the tie
With No.1 singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran leading the charge, India have plenty at stake in the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan: A win will take them to the elite World Group qualifiers.
For the record, bilateral cricket exchanges between India and Pakistan haven’t taken place after January 2013. All matches thereafter have only been in International Cricket Council-conducted competitions.
It’s fashionable to keep reminding that sport and politics must not mix, but that’s just not possible as the two get interlinked in the context of India-Pakistan relations — at times, to serve a purpose (cricket diplomacy, for example), and on other occasions, for sport and fans to take a hit.
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Lokendra Pratap Sahi is a veteran sports journalist who has covered cricket across the globe for nearly four decades.