Zero Buzz For High-Profile IndiaPakistan Davis Cup Contest

ISLAMABAD: Never has the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) received requests for passes for a Davis Cup match from regions as far as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, but the city of Islamabad is not giving the remotest of hints of hosting a high-profile IndiaPakistan contest.

Nothing, not even a single poster, in this beautiful city suggests that an Indian team has crossed the border for a Davis Cup match after 60 long years.

The Islamabad Sports Complex, the venue for the World Group I match, is not giving any buzz either, and the sprawling complex is out of bounds even for local media.

The PTF has pinned hopes of revival of the sport in the country on this tie but the promotion of the match through branding, advertisement, marketing and interviews is woefully lacking.

In a nutshell, the excitement and atmosphere, which is usually attached with an IndiaPakistan match, is missing.

To top it, only 500 guests and fans will be inside the complex Saturday and Sunday, the match days.

The entry will be on invitation, and PTF is picking only a niche tennis audience to attend.

The stiffness of security is such that the Indian players will not be able to enjoy Pakistani hospitality. They have access just to the venue and the team hotel as the city will remain out of bounds for them.

With the security agencies keeping a tight watch on the Indians, they cannot even go to the nearby shopping mall, let alone paying a visit to the famous Margala Hill.

The overnight rain delayed the start of India's practice session by two hours on Thursday but the players still came out to see courts.