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Amid rising diplomatic tensions with Pakistan, India's national tennis federation is likely to approach the sport's world governing body ITF, seeking a neutral venue for the Davis Cup tie against the neighbours which was originally planned in Islamabad.
Following the revocation of the provisions of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir by the union government, which took away the state's special status, Pakistan on Wednesday downgraded diplomatic ties with India. The Indian envoy in Pakistan was asked to leave the country.
The tie is scheduled for September 14 and 15 in the Pakistani capital and the federation had begun the process to procure visas for the players.
No Indian Davis Cup team has travelled to Pakistan since 1964 and bilateral cricket ties between the two countries have been dormant since the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai.
"But we will not say that we will not go to Pakistan. I don't want to take that road, I don't want the team to be penalised," added the AITA official.
What if the ITF refuses to shift the tie, Chatterjee said, "Security parameters are set by the ITF, not us. In case of any mishap, the responsibility will be with the ITF. That's why they have to look into it in a proper manner." Chatterjee said in the current scenario, they will also seek the central government's view.
"The relations with AITA and Pakistan Tennis Federation are very cordial but it's an issue between two countries. We will wait and then approach both the ITF and our government," he said.
When Hong Kong had refused to travel to Pakistan in 2017 for the Group II semifinals, their federation was fined USD 10,000 by the ITF, which also demoted the team to a lower Group in Asia/Ocean zone.
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.
There are four groups in Asia/Oceania zone, with I being the highest and IV the lowest.
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