Thaindian News

By Omar Khalid
Karachi, March 18 (IANS) Pakistan Wednesday questioned the security situation in the Philippines after its Davis Cup second round tie was switched from Lahore to Manila due to security fears.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) Wednesday relocated Pakistan’s Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone Group-II against Philippines, igniting a strong protest from Pakistan.

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has raised a question mark on the security situation in Philippines, demanding that the tie should be held at some neutral venue, preferably in Malaysia or Singapore.

“We have written to ITF that the security situation in Philippines is also of a concern to us,” said Dilawar Abbas, the PTF president. “Killings take place routinely there and our players will feel threatened touring that country. They cannot give their best in such circumstances,” he said

“We believe that if the tie cannot take place in Pakistan then we should have the option of playing it on some neutral venue like Malaysia or Singapore.”

Philippines’ tennis bosses had asked the ITF to move the tie from Lahore because of security concerns.

The Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (Philta) made the request in a letter to the ITF citing security apprehensions over playing in Pakistan in the wake of a terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore earlier this month.

Pakistan sees the venue switch as a big blow to its chances of qualifying for Davis Cup Group-I this year. “Our home advatnage is gone and that is not acceptable to us,” concluded Abbas.