An Indian tennis workforce has travelled to Pakistan for the Davis Cup for the primary time in 60 years, for the upcoming World Group 1 playoff tie to be performed on the grass courts of Islamabad between February 3-4. However given the tight safety cowl that has been granted to them, they’re but to expertise the ambiance of the town or choose the reception they may obtain from the folks.
“The expertise has been nice to date however now we have been below very strict safety situations,” Zeeshan Ali, India coach and captain for the tie, advised The Indian Specific over the cellphone from Islamabad. “We went from the airport to the lodge, after which to the follow venues and again to the lodge. Now we have not been transferring across the metropolis and haven’t gotten an opportunity to work together with anybody. What now we have seen to date has been fabulous, the lodge is catering to our wants and the meals is nice. Can’t anticipate extra, actually.”
Sporting ties have been frosty between the 2 nations resulting from geopolitical tensions – when India have been scheduled to play a Davis Cup tie in Pakistan in 2019, the tie was moved to the impartial venue of Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan; India’s request for a similar was denied this yr. It stays uncommon for an Indian sports activities workforce or group of athletes to tour the nation.
Nevertheless, given the circumstances, the Pakistan Sports activities Board (PSB) have ensured a safety cowl normally reserved for heads of state for the Indian contingent, limiting their motion across the metropolis. A dinner held on the Indian Consulate on Wednesday would be the workforce’s first outing away from the lodge and follow venue.
Ali says that the group is conscious of the novelty of having the ability to play in Pakistan, and that the sporting rivalry between the 2 nations has resonance again dwelling. However the workforce wants no further motivation than the easy incontrovertible fact that they’re enjoying within the Davis Cup for the nation.
“We have been conscious of the safety measures beforehand, so we got here ready. This has no influence on the gamers mentally. I do know that, in some methods, this can be a historic tie since we’re coming right here for the Davis Cup for the primary time in 60 years. All of us are conscious of that historical past and what which means. A match like this doesn’t actually occur fairly often. However on the identical time, we’re not right here to sightsee, we’re right here with a goal. The main focus stays on profitable the tie for India this weekend and if we will expertise a very good (ambiance), that’s a plus.”
“India and Pakistan will not be enjoying a lot, however individually, the gamers are in touch with one another on the tour, and a number of the Pakistani gamers have performed in India as properly. So, once more, this isn’t a brand new expertise for them,” Ali added.
Among the many acquainted faces within the Pakistan camp are veterans Aqeel Khan and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. Qureshi, the 43-year-old doubles specialist who may function in singles too, has a much bigger reference to India, as soon as reaching the boys’s doubles ultimate of the 2010 US Open alongside Rohan Bopanna. Whereas talking throughout an Thought Change with The Indian Specific again in 2021, Qureshi lamented the breakdown of sporting ties between the 2 nations.
“It’s disappointing that for political causes, these items usually are not taking place and sports activities are getting affected. Sports activities and humanities, that’s the sweetness about it that we don’t price folks due to the tradition or faith or which nation they belong from. And it needs to be left like that,” he had stated. “For me, it’s disappointing that Indians can’t come to Pakistan to play, or Pakistanis can’t go to India to play both.”
Three years on, Qureshi will likely be getting his want this weekend.