Conflict between India and Pakistan sees Davis Cup match at threat after request to move clash rejected

The scheduled Davis Cup clash between India and Pakistan may not take place after all, with tension between the two nations leading to a possible cancellation of the match.

India and Pakistan have been at odds since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Even sporting rivalries are now few and far between, with Pakistan last hosting their neighbors in a Davis Cup tie back in 1964. Although the upcoming Davis Cup tie is scheduled for February 3, 2024, India may be forced to forfeit the clash as their players have yet to be granted approval by the Indian government to travel to Pakistan.

World No.138 Sumit Nagal, who represents India, allegedly asked not to be considered for the tie due to the match surface being grass. Sasi Kumar Mukund, ranked 557th in the world, asked out of the match last month, citing personal reasons.

"This is wrong," said All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary-general Anil Dhupa. "When it's a question of serving the country, why would you not do it? I have put the matter in the hands of the Executive Committee. There is no choice for players if they want to represent India. My theory is simple. But I am nobody to take a call. The call has to be taken by the Executive Committee. If the player is sick and injured, I can understand but this is not the first time that Mukund has made himself unavailable for national duty. He has done it twice. Let the administrators of the country decide what's best for India."

India and Pakistan were also drawn to play one another in the 2019 Davis Cup, when the tie was moved to a neutral third country - Kazakhstan - for security reasons. Pakistan players Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan subsequently ruled themselves out of the contest as a mark of protest.