Iran against Pakistan hosting Davis Cup tie

KARACHI: Pakistan’s right to host the Davis Cup tie against Iran next year is in jeopardy as the former has appealed to International Tennis Federation (ITF) to review its decision of allowing this tie in Islamabad.

ITF recently allowed Pakistan to host its Asia/Oceania Group-II tie against Iran in Islamabad from February 3-5 next year. But this did not go down well with Iran and it appealed against the decision.

“A communication received from the ITF late on Monday addressed to President Pakistan Tennis Federation conveyed that Iran Tennis Federation had appealed to the ITF in respect of the venue approved for the Davis Cup Tie (Pakistan-Iran) scheduled in Islamabad from 3-5 February naming security conditions as the reason,” stated PTF secretary Khalid Rehmani.

He added that a few days ago the Davis Cup Committee had approved Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, as the venue after a thorough scrutiny by the ITF’s security consultants of the on-ground situation and the law and order.

“The approval was delightful news and welcomed by all sports fraternities across the country,” added Khalid. “This wonderful news came after twelve painful years since the Davis Cup was last played in Pakistan.”

As per ITF procedure, he added, an appeal on the venue was placed before the ITF Board of Directors for a review and the ITF had stated that the matter would be finalised in the next ten days.

“While it is the right of a nation to appeal, the fact that it was submitted by our brotherly neighbour Iran is a big surprise. Iran’s heads of state and government have visited Pakistan, their national teams and individual sportspersons have been participating frequently in many sports events held here,” said Khalid.

It is difficult to comprehend why the Iran Tennis Federation chose to do this, said Khalid.

“We hope the ITF Board of Directors upholds the DC Committee’s decision and permits the tie to be hosted in Pakistan, a country deprived of its rights for a dozen years,” said the PTF secretary.