Australia refuses to send Davis Cup team to India

[Raghav_K]

From Rediff News:

Australia will not send its Davis Cup team to India for next month's tie because of security concerns, Tennis Australia said on Saturday, knowing the country could now face a year-long ban and substantial fine.
TA had appealed against the International Tennis Federation's decision to keep the May 8-10 Asia/Oceania group I tie in Chennai, citing security concerns.
The ITF on Friday, however, rejected the appeal and upheld the decision of the Davis Cup committee to keep the tie in Chennai, which is considered by Indian authorities to be a safe destination.
The ITF had based its original decision to keep the tie in India after a review by its security consultants.
"The ITF decision has left us with no other option," Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said in a statement.
"We cannot send the team. It would be irresponsible of us to send our players into an area of such high risk. Davis Cup is very important to us but some things are more important than tennis," he said.
Security in the sub-continent has been called into question following the ambush of the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus in Lahore, Pakistan, in March.
The incident triggered concerns that sports could become a target for more attacks in south Asia. India also remains nervous after terrorists killed more than 150 people in a three-day attack in Mumbai in November.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India moved the Indian Premier League Twenty20 league to South Africa after the government said providing security would be a problem due to clash of dates with the general election.
Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said he was angry with the ITF's decision and pointed to events surrounding the election that suggested security forces were being stretched.
"It is just irresponsible. Surely some thought must be given to the players' safety," Fitzgerald said.
"I believe they say the election is not a cause for concern, the IPL moving is not relevant and that an ATP tournament held in January shows it is safe to play in Chennai.
"So what about the fact that dozens of people are being killed along the campaign trail of the election? A train was hijacked this week, but that does not alter their thoughts? Did the IPL move for no reason?
"This decision makes no sense. We have worked so hard to get back in to World Group contention, to have it snatched away like this is gut wrenching," he said.
Under Davis Cup rules, TA now could be banned from the competition for 12 months and face a substantial fine.
Three weeks ago, the ITF banned the city of Malmo from hosting future Davis Cup ties for five years and fined Swedish tennis officials $25,000 after the host nation decided to stage the World Group tie against Israel behind closed doors.

Well Chennai open went without any problem in Jan... Wonder what the Aussies are crying for???

Honestly not many give a crap about a tennis tourney here I hope ITF enforces the year long ban

I agree a cricket tourney was shifted but it was entirely a different situation, for those matches were to be played all over india, and the eight teams' players would be shuttling between different cities every night, and providing security for 40 days would've be complex with elections taking place all over the country...

But regarding Davis' cup, it's just a matter of 3 days, that too in a single city... and elections here take place only after the tourney

http://uk.reuters.com/article/tennisNew … c=401&

Tennis-ITF declares India winner after Australia forfeits tie

CHENNAI, India, April 25 (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has declared India the winner of next month's Davis Cup tie in Chennai after Tennis Australia (TA) said it would not send a team due to security fears.

The ITF said it regretted TA's decision, adding that a decision over any sanctions would be made in due course.

Under Davis Cup rules, Australia could be banned from the competition for 12 months and face a substantial fine.

"The ITF regrets and respectfully disagrees with the decision of Tennis Australia to default its upcoming Davis Cup tie against India," the ITF said in a statement on the Davis Cup website (www.daviscup.com).

"By virtue of its decision not to send a team to compete against India, Australia has forfeited the tie. India is declared the winner and will advance to the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs, scheduled for 18-20 September."

The statement added: "The Davis Cup Committee in due course will decide any sanctions to be assessed against Australia according to the regulations of the 2009 competition."

On Friday the ITF rejected an appeal from TA to move the May 8-10 Asia/Oceania group I tie from Chennai because of security concerns.

Australia said on Saturday it would not send a team, thus forfeiting the match.

guess der r no tennis fans here

I want to see a more safer country in South Asia.

[Raghav_K]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/tennisNew … c=401&

Tennis-ITF declares India winner after Australia forfeits tie

CHENNAI, India, April 25 (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has declared India the winner of next month's Davis Cup tie in Chennai after Tennis Australia (TA) said it would not send a team due to security fears.

The ITF said it regretted TA's decision, adding that a decision over any sanctions would be made in due course.

Under Davis Cup rules, Australia could be banned from the competition for 12 months and face a substantial fine.

"The ITF regrets and respectfully disagrees with the decision of Tennis Australia to default its upcoming Davis Cup tie against India," the ITF said in a statement on the Davis Cup website (www.daviscup.com).

"By virtue of its decision not to send a team to compete against India, Australia has forfeited the tie. India is declared the winner and will advance to the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs, scheduled for 18-20 September."

The statement added: "The Davis Cup Committee in due course will decide any sanctions to be assessed against Australia according to the regulations of the 2009 competition."

On Friday the ITF rejected an appeal from TA to move the May 8-10 Asia/Oceania group I tie from Chennai because of security concerns.

Australia said on Saturday it would not send a team, thus forfeiting the match.

guess der r no tennis fans here

[panchabhut]

May be the Indian Cricket team should reciprocate the decision........

[Raghav_K]

Originally Posted by meetdilip

I want to see a more safer country in South Asia.

[itsmemad]

Australians are always hyterical about safety...

India declared winner by ITF. May ban or penalise Australia.

[panchabhut]

Originally Posted by meetdilip

May ban or penalise Australia.

Doubtful. Australia has a stong clout in ITF

They must penalise aussies, Bunch of losers... Seriosuly it was just the matter of 3 days in one city but they still cry for nothing...Pathetic

[Raghav_K]

They were probably afraid of Somdev Dev Varman Too much i know

[itsmemad]

Javed Miandad said that since Aussies has cancelled the Tennis Tourney in India cuz of security reasons, ICC should move the Cricket World Cup out of India... Pakis can't stop hating India..

Aussie culture is like that. They are descendants of goons who were lucky to be born as British. When the British claimed vast lands in Australia,all those jobless, useless British went there for vast farm fields. What more can we expect from them.

pak's are of such a kind of people who say.. its no matter if we die but we will not let you live...!

[Raghav_K]

Originally Posted by itsmemad

Javed Miandad said that since Aussies has cancelled the Tennis Tourney in India cuz of security reasons, ICC should move the Cricket World Cup out of India... Pakis can't stop hating India..

lmao that's dumb

[sjstays]

Don tell me the Aussies were not prepared enuf! [:P]