NZ want Pakistan Davis Cup tie moved

Published: March 9, 2010

WELLINGTON: New Zealand want their Davis Cup tie against Pakistan moved from the South Asian country because of terrorism fears, a tennis official said on Monday.

New Zealand won their Asia-Oceania zone group two tie against Sri Lanka 3-2 in Colombo at the weekend and are now due to face Pakistan in a semifinal in Pakistan in July. But security fears mean Tennis New Zealand (TNZ) wants the tie moved to New Zealand or a neutral venue.

“We spoke to the ITF (International Tennis Federation) 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,” TNZ events and operations manager Tracy Hall said.

“As of today we have emailed the ITF asking about the process and what we need to do to have it reviewed.” Hall was unsure whether the Pakistanis would be prepared to give up home court advantage.

Foreign sports teams have shunned Pakistan since an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March last year. A Test series between New Zealand and Pakistan scheduled to be played in Pakistan last year was moved to New Zealand and a one-day series was played in the United Arab Emirates.

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