The All India Tennis Association announced a depleted team for the Davis Cup World Group I playoffs against Pakistan that is scheduled to take place from 3-4 February, 2024.
While India defeated Morocco 4-1 in the World Group II first round, Pakistan blanked Indonesia 5-0 to make it to the World Group I playoffs.
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India currently lead their head-to-head record in Davis Cup 7-0. Though the India versus Pakistan rivalry in tennis is not as intense and storied as that in cricket or hockey, it comes with its own historic baggage.
According to the draw made by the International Tennis Federation earlier this week, Pakistan have the choice of ground and will host the tie. And there is already a question mark whether India will travel to Pakistan for the crucial Davis Cup clash, which could see them return to the World Cup I.
Indian team for the Davis Cup tie vs Pakistan
- Ramkumar Ramanathan
- N Sriram Balaji
- Yuki Bhambri
- Saketh Myneni
- Niki Poonacha
- Digvijay Pratap Singh (reserve)
India's leading players Sumit Nagal and Sasikumar Mukund have opted out of the tie, scheduled to be played in Pakistan, due to 'family reasons'.
In their absence, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Yuki Bhambri, who does not play in singles on the professional tour anymore, are likely to take on the singles duty.
Will India travel to Pakistan for Davis Cup?
The ITF, om Saturday, rejected AITA's dispute that it's Davis Cup could face security concerns during the play-off tie in Islamabad.
This means that the Indian contingent will have to travel to Pakistan to play their match. In case India fail to travel to Pakistan, the tie will be awarded to the host nation.
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It is understood that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) had raised security concerns over visiting and playing in Pakistan. India has not played Pakistan in bilateral ties in cricket either since 2008.
In 2019, when the tennis teams were set for another a high-profile clash, the Indian team refused to travel to Pakistan despite the ITF security team deeming the venue safe.
The ITF eventually delayed the tie and were forced to move it to a neutral venue in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. In protest of the decision, top Pakistan players likes Aisam Qureshi and Aqeel Khan decided to skip the tie. India defeated a young Pakistan side 4-0 to win the Asia-Oceania Group I Round 1 tie.
But the diplomatic relations between the countries have been fractured since the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai. India has not played a bilateral cricket series in Pakistan since 2006 and it is unlikely that they will travel to the neighbouring country for the Davis Cup clash.
India has appealed to the ITF Tribunal for a change of venue, but the verdict is not out yet.
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“We’ll wait for the tribunal to take a call, but if they reject our appeal, and the government needs to be approached for permission to travel, we will do that,” Anil Dhupar, the secretary general of AITA, was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
“Davis Cup isn’t an ordinary series, it is like a World Cup series, and given those circumstances, I’m confident that the government will approve. If needed, we will play in Pakistan.”
When was the last time India played Davis Cup tie in Pakistan?
Of the seven India-Pakistan ties in Davis Cup, only two have taken place in Pakistan. India last travelled to Pakistan for the premier men's tennis tournament in 1964 for the Eastern Group B semi-final, which they won 4-0.
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