Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India want Davis Cup tie moved from Pakistan over Kashmir

India have asked the International Tennis Federation to move their upcoming Davis Cup tie from Pakistan to a neutral venue due to escalating political tensions between the two nations.

The Indian team are scheduled in Pakistan's capital Islamabad for the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie to be held on September 14 and 15.


But relations between the neighbours are badly strained after India revoked the special autonomy status of Kashmir, which the nuclear-armed rivals have fought two wars over since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

"We have asked ITF for a neutral venue because the situation is a bit unpredictable," All India Tennis Association (AITA) president Praveen Mahajan told AFP on Sunday.

"I believe it is a reasonable request because of the current state of affairs."

Pakistan Tennis Federation vice president Khalid Rehmani said his country remained ready to host the tie.

Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with India amid a military lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir and stopped a cross-border train.

The AITA was preparing to send its team to Pakistan despite suspended sporting ties between the two countries, but the Kashmir situation has raised fresh doubts.

India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with authorities blaming Pakistani militants.

An Indian tennis team last toured Pakistan in 1964 for the Davis Cup, where they defeated the hosts 4-0.

Pakistan lost 3-2 when they toured Mumbai in 2006.

Until a few years ago, Pakistan were forced to host home Davis Cup ties at neutral venues as teams refused to travel to the South Asian nation over security concerns.

India named a full-strength squad for the crucial tie with the country's highest-ranked players in Prajnesh Gunneswaran (90) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (184) to play the four singles matches.

More For You

Leona Lewis

Holiday fans celebrate Leona Lewis' One More Sleep topping the UK streaming charts

Youtube Screengrab

Leona Lewis beats Coldplay and Lily Allen to become UK’s most streamed British Christmas song of the century

Highlights:

  • Leona Lewis hits 190 million UK streams with One More Sleep
  • Coldplay and Lily Allen close behind in modern festive chart
  • Alexandra Burke’s Hallelujah still tops overall 21st-century Christmas sales
  • Official Charts reveal top 10 most popular UK festive tracks
  • Lewis continues Las Vegas Christmas residency through January

Leona Lewis’s One More Sleep has officially been named the most streamed British Christmas song of the 21st century. The 2013 festive hit, which reached number three on the UK singles chart, has now surpassed 190 million streams in the UK, according to the Official Charts Company.

Leona Lewis Holiday fans celebrate Leona Lewis' One More Sleep topping the UK streaming charts Youtube Screengrab

Keep ReadingShow less