Summary: Prioritizing the well-being of officials and players, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has moved the India-Pakistan Davis Cup encounter to a non-partisan venue.
In a positive outcome for the Indian tennis authorities, the ITF officially decided on Monday to shift the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan away from Islamabad. This decision followed closely on the heels of Rohit Rajpal's appointment as captain. Originally slated for September, the match had already been postponed once because India raised alarms regarding player safety amidst the tense political climate between the two nations following the changes to Jammu and Kashmir's status.
According to the International Tennis Federation, the decision to move the Asia/Oceania Group I tie on November 29-30, 2019, was based on the latest reports from their independent security consultants. The ITF emphasized that the safety of everyone involved—from the athletes to the spectators—is their primary concern. Under official Davis Cup regulations, the responsibility now falls on the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) to suggest a neutral city, with a five-day window to finalize the location.
Salim Saifullah Khan, President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, described the ITF's move as 'unfortunate,' telling PTI that this is a clear instance of politics interfering with sports. The tension between the two countries spiked after Pakistan voiced strong opposition to India's decision to remove the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganize it into union territories.
The AITA has appointed former player and selection board chairman Rohit Rajpal as the non-playing captain. While there was speculation that 46-year-old Leander Paes might take the role—especially after other top players and captain Bhupathi stepped aside—the AITA finalized Rajpal's appointment during its ECM and AGM in Chandigarh. The AITA President confirmed that the decision is final and that Rajpal will now coordinate with top players to see who is available for the squad.