Indian team will travel to Pakistan for the first time in 55 years to participate in the Davis Cup, All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary-General Hironmoy Chatterjee confirmed on Sunday.
“Yes, we will go. It is not a bilateral series, it’s a World Cup of tennis so we have to go. There was no communication with the government as it’s a world event, we have to abide by the IOC charter, AITA Secretary told ANI.
“The team of six players, support staff and coach will be going to Pakistan. I will also go along with the team. We will be putting in the visa application for everyone. Pakistan hockey team travelled to India for the World Cup and now we are also going,” he added.
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The Davis Cup draw was rolled out in February this year, but after the Pulwama attack on February 14, the future of Indian tennis team touring Pakistan looked really bleak.
Indian cricket team had last toured Pakistan in 2007, and after that, no team across any sport in the country has toured Pakistan.
India last played Pakistan in the Davis Cup in 2006 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, in which the hosts managed to register a 3-2 win to take India’s head-to-head tally against Pakistan to 6-0.
AITA is yet to announce the final squad for the outing between the two neighbouring countries.
(With ANI inputs)