Pakistan wishes for neutral Davis Cup venue

The Pakistan tennis officials declined to play their country’s relocated Davis Cup tie against the Philippines in the Philippines, referring security reasons, fears and calling for a neutral venue.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) had expressed to Pakistan that its Asia Oceania Group II tie has been moved to the Philippines due to the some security reasons.

Dilawar Abbas officially said, “The Players of Pakistan have also security concerns about playing in the Philippines as well, so the tie must be shifted to a neutral venue. “The ITF has prescribed us that our home tie which was owing to be played in Lahore has been shifted after some Philippine players, who have US passports, raised security doubts,” the president of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Dilawar Abbas told AFP.

Last Week the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) wrote to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), saying that the March 3 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team had spread the waves of fear in peoples and concerns about playing in Pakistan. The same city in which the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked killing eight Pakistanis and injuring seven touring players and their assistant coach, the Philippines was scheduled to play Pakistan from July 10-12 in Lahore.

Abbas described that relocating to the Philippines would affect and disturb their opportunities. He further told “By not playing on our home courts we have misplaced the home benefit so we are not going to give that advantage to our opponents and instead press for a neutral venue.

Pakistan’s chances of hosting international sport were covered a serious and heavy powerful stroke by the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team. Last month, Pakistan was compelled to move their home Davis Cup tie against Oman to Muscat after their rivals raised security concerns.

Owing to be staged next month in Pakistan, An international squash event was called off and New Zealand has suggested that it will not send its cricket team to Pakistan for the November-December series this year.

Bangladesh’ cricket also delayed its tour to Pakistan on Tuesday by saying that they would not be able to assurance security for the Pakistani team in the wake of last month’s mutiny in Dhaka.