The Mumbai blasts and the rising tensions between India and Pakistan have failed to faze tennis authorities across the border from planning an inaugural India-Pakistan tennis series in November.
Though the schedule is yet to be confirmed, Pakistan Tennis Federation president Syed Dilawar Abbas asserted that the series will not be affected by the prevailing mood.
Last week the Indo-Pak Peace Cup snooker Championship, slated for September, and the Indo-Pak kabaddi series, scheduled to begin on Thursday in Jalandhar, were cancelled owing to the 'tense' situation in the wake of the July 11 serial blasts in Mumbai.
"The series is definitely on the cards, we have not called it off," Abbas told rediff.com from Islamabad.
"We are in the process of finalising the dates; I will be discussing it with Anil Khanna (secretary, All India Tennis Association). We are looking at either the second or third week of November, depending on the availability of the players, to schedule the series."
The idea of a tennis series was discussed formally during the recent Davis Cup tie in Mumbai, where India beat Pakistan 3-2, Leander Paes turing out in the singles and eating Aqeel Khan in the deciding rubber.
Abbas, a member of the Pakistan Senate, said sporting ties should continue between the countries.
"I am sure Pakistan is not involved in the blasts," he said, adding, "sports is the best CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) between the countries and they should not be affected by this. Our next generation should participate in activities like these to better the relations."
The proposed series will be a double leg tournament on the Davis Cup format. Each leg will have best-of-three matches (two singles and one doubles), with Pakistan hosting the first 'Test'.
The venues are yet to be decided.
India and Pakistan have played six times in the Davis Cup. India have won every one of those matches.
