AITA may send team to Pakistan for Davis Cup, will begin visa process soon

The national tennis federation on Tuesday decided to begin the process to procure Pakistan visas for its players and support staff, indicating that it may send a team to the neighbouring nation for next month's Davis Cup tie in case the ITF rejects its request to shift the matches to a neutral venue.

It has been learnt that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) won't force any player to travel to Pakistan and is willing to send even a second-string team to avoid suspension, relegation and fine by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

If the ITF itself shifts the tie a neutral venue, all top players are expected to make themselves available except Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who is getting married on November 29, the opening day of matches.

The tie was originally scheduled to be held in Islamabad on September 14-15 but was postponed to November 29-30 by the ITF after a security review.

The AITA is consistently writing to the world governing body to shift the tie to a neutral venue, ..