Nur-Sultan to be the venue for India-Pak tie
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 19
After months of speculation the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has shifted the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group to a neutral centre in Nur-Sultan, Kazakshtan.
Originally slated to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan on 14-15 September, the tie was first rescheduled by the ITF in November after All-India Tennis Association (AITA) flagged the escalation of hostilities between the countries following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir.
ITF today, made it clear that the tie will be played in Nur-Sultan on 29-30 November.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) had registered an appeal to the Davis Cup Committee against the decision to shift the tie from Islamabad. The appeal was dismissed by an independent panel on November 18.
“Further to the decision of the PTF not to nominate a neutral venue, in accordance with the regulations the Davis Cup Committee has voted in favour of the tie being hosted by the ITF on a neutral ground at the National Tennis Centre in Nur-Sultan (previously Astana), Kazakshtan on 29-30 November,” ITF said in a brief statement on Tuesday.
While the news of the tie being shifted out of Islamabad was welcomed by all, a quick check on weather conditions gave the team a chill. The temperature is hovering around -24 degrees in Nur-Sultan, the only positive was that the National Tennis Centre is a heated indoor facility.
