PTF rejects Davis Cup tie rescheduling request

KARACHI: Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has once again declined the request of Indonesia to change the dates of the Davis Cup tie between the two countries.
“The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has once again asked us to change the dates of the tie. First they asked if we could extend the tie for a week and now they asked if we could hold the tie from July 14-16,” said PTF secretary Khalid Rehmani while talking to ‘The News’.
The tie is originally scheduled for July 16-19.
Khalid added that PTF was not in favour of any change in dates. “A meeting in this regard was held on Saturday in which it was unanimously decided that PTF would stick to the already scheduled dates set by ITF and there would be no change in them,” said Khalid.
He was of the view that any change in dates of the tie would not suit Pakistani players, especially Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, who would be playing Wimbledon before the tie. “The PTF will inform the ITF about this decision of no change in dates on Monday (today). The ITF will be having a meeting in this regard on Tuesday, so it is hoped that they will ask Indonesia to hold the tie on the same dates,” added Khalid.
Indonesia requested ITF to change the tie dates (July 17-19) because both Pakistan and Indonesia being Muslim countries would be having Eid, a religious festival, on these dates, which would severely affect the arrangements.
Indonesia, in order to strengthen its case, also mentioned that it would be short of staff and there would be security problems if the tie was held in Eid days.
It requested ITF to convince PTF for change in dates, but PTF, after taking its top two players, Aisam and Aqeel Khan, on board refused to change the dates.
PTF informed the ITF that due to Aisam’s ATP schedule Pakistan would play on the same dates on which the tie has already been scheduled. ITF then told Indonesia that if they could not manage the tie in those dates they should go for a neutral venue and convey their final decision to ITF by April 2.
But Indonesia requested once again ITF to convince Pakistan to hold the tie in early dates if extension was not possible for them. And yet again Pakistan refused to accept this request.
According to the original schedule, Pakistan are to travel to Indonesia for the second round of Asia/Oceania Zone Group II. Indonesia lead the series 2-1.
It is expected that Indonesia would not go for the expensive neutral venue option and instead reschedule the tie on their hard courts.
It is pertinent to mention that PTF changed the dates of the first tie of Davis Cup 2014 against Vietnam from January 31-February 2 to February 14-16 on the request of Vietnam as the earlier dates were falling in the Chinese New Year.