The Indian team is probably going to get clearance to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Davis Cup tie towards the neighbouring nation, the nationwide federation stated on Saturday.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) had not too long ago written to the Sports Ministry, looking for advise if they will ship the nationwide team to Pakistan for the World Group I Play-off tie on February 3-4.
“We have not yet got the approval in writing but it is likely that we will get clearance soon. We have been told that since it is not bilateral tournament and the one organised by the ITF, the government does not have a policy to interfere in such events,” AITA Secretary General Anil Dhupar informed PTI.
“There is process involved. The sports ministry has forwarded the request to the MEA and the Home Ministry’s view will also be taken before a final decision is made. We are hoping to get the clearance soon.
“We are getting ready for the tie and the travel,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Saturday said it is still waiting for a final confirmation of players and officials from India to participate in the Davis Cup tie in Islamabad.
“The AITF have despatched us a listing of 11 officers and seven gamers who will probably be coming to Islamabad for visa processing. But we’re nonetheless ready for their ultimate arrival affirmation,” Saleem Saifullah, the PTF President, said.
“They (AITA) have stated they are going to ship it (affirmation) as soon as they get clearance from their authorities to travel to Pakistan. The checklist additionally consists of their captain Rohit Rajpal apart from seven different gamers,” he added.
On December 26, the PTI reported from New Delhi that the AITA had sought the Sports Ministry’s recommendation on the team’s travel to Pakistan Saifullah stated there was a deadline for the AITA to ship ultimate arrival affirmation and in the event that they did not travel to Pakistan the International Tennis Federation (ITF) would think about the Davis Cup tie as forfeited, awarding full factors to the hosts.
The Indian Davis Cup team final travelled to Pakistan in 1964 when Akhtar Ali, Premjit Lall and SP Misra helped the guests seize the tie 4-0 in Lahore.
However, India and Pakistan had been drawn towards one another in 2019 and the tie was scheduled to happen within the neighbouring nation.
But on that event, the AITA managed to shift it to a impartial venue, Kazakhstan, citing political strife between the 2 nations.
This time Pakistan team will probably be led by their high participant Aisam ul Haq Qureishi and he will probably be joined by Aqeel Khan, Muhammad Shoaib, Barkatullah and Muhammad Abid.
