ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Pakistan tennis officials on Thursday demanded compensation of $60,000 (Rs4.7 million) from the game’s governing body after their Davis Cup first-round tie was relocated over security fears.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF), which holds the men’s annual team event, last month informed the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) of its security concerns about playing the tie in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Davis Cup Group II tie against Oman is scheduled for March 6-8.

The ITF gave Pakistan the option of playing the tie in either Oman or Malaysia, PTF President Dilawar Abbas said.

“We think there are no security issues in Pakistan, but if the ITF still wants to switch the tie, we demand it to be played on a neutral venue, either in Singapore or Malaysia but not in Oman,” Dilawar stated.

He added that the switch will incur losses to Pakistan. “We have demanded $60,000 in compensation as we lose $40,000 in sponsorship and there will be extra travel expenses of $20,000 after the tie is relocated,” he noted.

Major sport activities have been hit hard in Pakistan since the Sept 11, 2001 attacks and the conflict in Afghanistan.

Pakistan had to relocate two of its cricket home series — against Australia and the West Indies — to neutral venues in 2002 over security concerns.

Australia again postponed a tour of Pakistan in March last year, citing security fears, while the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the high-profile eight-nation Champions Trophy which was due to be hosted by Pakistan in September.

India cancelled its Pakistan cricket tour scheduled for January and February this year in the wake of the Mumbai incident.

Two major hockey events were also shifted from Pakistan in 2004 and 2007 after Australia and other European teams refused to tour the country.—AFP