Tennis New Zealand urges ITF to move Davis Cup tie out of Pakistan

Concerned over the precarious security conditions in that country, Tennis New Zealand has asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to move its upcoming Davis Cup tie against Pakistan to New Zealand or to a neutral venue.

Pakistan and New Zealand are scheduled to clash in an Asia-Oceania Group II semifinal in Pakistan from July 9 to 11.

Tennis New Zealand operations manager Tracy Hall said the association had approached the ITF in December also.

“We spoke to the ITF last December when the draw came out and they said they would not review the situation until both Pakistan and New Zealand got through the first round. As of today we have e-mailed the ITF asking about the process and what we need to do to have it reviewed,” The News quoted Hall, as saying.

Hall said the ITF had moved the first round match between Pakistan and Hong Kong  to Hong Kong because it was “too dangerous”.

He, however, added that the federation might be less inclined to switch venues for a semi-final match.