The AITA has asked the ITF to move the match outside of Pakistan due to potential security risks for the participants.
Although the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has never received requests for passes for a Davis Cup match from areas as far away as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Islamabad is not even hinting at hosting a major India-Pakistan event. In this stunning city, not a single banner indicates that an Indian team has crossed the border for a Davis Cup match in sixty long years. There’s also little buzz coming from the Islamabad Sports Complex, where the World Group I match will take place, and even the local media is not allowed inside the vast complex.
The PTF has placed a lot of hope in this tie to spark a national comeback for the sport, yet the match has received appallingly little branding, advertising, marketing, or interview exposure.
In summary, the thrill and energy that are typically associated with an India-Pakistan match are absent.
Even worse, on the days of the matches, on Saturday and Sunday, there will only be 500 visitors and supporters within the premises.
PTF is selecting only a specialized tennis audience to attend, and entrance will be by invitation only.
The security measures are so stringent that the Indian players will be unable to partake in the hospitality of Pakistan. The city will remain off limits to them; their access is limited to the arena and the team hotel.
The Indians can’t even travel to the mall nearby, much less visit the well-known Margala Hill, because the security agents are always on the lookout for them.
When questioned why there isn’t more excitement, a senior PTF official told PTI, “We would have made it a grand show for the Indian contingent but are forced to keep it as a low-key affair.” The Indian Federation’s security concerns are the reason it has to be that way. We must adhere to the plan that the ITF has authorized.
If we hadn’t been restrained, we would have splattered the city with posters of the Indian and Pakistani players.” The tie is being played in an extremely constrained setting, which PTF treasurer Muhammad Khalil Chugtai also bemoaned.
“We would have planned a grand welcome event at Wagah itself if the Indian team had arrived through the Wagah border,” he declared.
Iran also expressed security worries in 2017, and security preparations were made in response. They eventually became tired of being confined to a hotel.
India’s concerns
The players would face security risks, according to the AITA, which had asked the ITF to move the tie outside of Pakistan.
It reasoned that since Kashmir Day falls on February 5, a public holiday, the AITA made a mistake in scheduling Kashmir Day for February 4, the second day of the tie, which could pose some issues.
The Pakistani general elections, which are set for February 8, are also near to the matches, and the AITA expressed concern about possible pre-election violence.
Additionally, according to AITA, India and Pakistan have taken opposing positions in the Israel-Palestine dispute, which may endanger the security of its participants in that nation.
The Indian team is not expected to encounter any security concerns, according to the ITF Tribunal’s decision after the Davis Cup Committee turned down AITA’s appeal.
Tight security measures are in place, though, to guarantee that the tie goes off without a hitch. ITF has instructed us to hold it under wraps. You are not witnessing any buzz or enthusiasm because of this.
However, we have received requests for passes from Southern Punjab, Baloch, and KPK. Many are interested in attending an India-Pakistan match.
In the past, the majority of our queries came from Lahore. The tennis community is interested in the tie, but we are unable to effectively publicize it, according to Asim Shafik, a key person in charge of the arrangements.
For us, the focus is on the eyes. It will be beneficial if 10,000 people watch and even if 100 parents sign up their children to play tennis,” he continued.
Practice delayed
India’s practice session on Thursday was delayed by two hours due to overnight rain, but the players still showed up to view the courts.”What else can I do at the hotel? A player summarized the atmosphere by saying, “It’s better to be outside in the sun now.”
