Davis Cup tie in Pak: ITF panel to take final call

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NEW DELHI: After rejecting India's security concerns twice, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has left it to the Davis Cup Committee to take a final decision on the Asia/ Oceania Group 1 away tie, which is scheduled to be held on September 14-15 at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad.

The ITF has tried in vain thus far to impress upon the All India Tennis Association (AITA) about the strong security arrangements in place at the venue.

A planned tele-conference between the AITA, Davis Cup team captain Mahesh Bhupathi, with the ITF and the concerned security agency in Pakistan, which was postponed from Monday, did not take place.

The Davis Cup committee - with Ismail El Shafei of Egypt as the chairman and seven members including Olympic GGold medallist and multiple Grand Slam champion Mark Woodforde of Australia - will take up the matter with the national federations concerned, The Hindu reports.

AITA has raised the issue of the escalated tensions between the two countries while  petitioning the ITF to take a suo moto decision to either postpone the tie or shift it to a neutral venue.

Once the Davis Cup committee decides on the subject, it will convey the same to the ITF Board of Directors, for suitable follow up action, the daily further reports.