The Indian team is likely to get clearance to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against the neighbours, the national federation said on Saturday.

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) had recently written to the sports ministry for advice on whether they can send the national team to Pakistan for the World Group I playoff tie on February 3-4.

“We have not yet got the approval in writing but it’s likely we will get clearance soon. We have been told that since it is not a bilateral tournament and organised by the ITF, the government does not have a policy to interfere in such events,” AITA secretary-general Anil Dhupar said.

The Indian Davis Cup team last travelled to Pakistan in 1964.

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Saturday said it is still waiting for a final
confirmation of India players and officials to participate in the Davis Cup tie in Islamabad.

“The AITA have sent us a list of 11 officials and 7 players who will be coming to Islamabad for visa processing. But we are still waiting for their final arrival confirmation,” the Pakistan federation’s president, Saleem Saifullah, said.

Dhupar added: “There is process involved. The sports ministry has forwarded the request to the MEA and the home ministry’s view will also be taken before a final decision is made. We are hoping to get the clearance soon.

“We are preparing for the tie and the travel.”

Pakistan’s Saifullah said there was a deadline for the AITA to send the final arrival confirmation and if they didn’t travel to Pakistan, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) would consider the Davis Cup tie as forfeited, awarding full points to the hosts.