Dismissing Pakistan’s review appeal, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Tuesday announced Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan as the neutral venue for the upcoming Davis Cup tie between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) had filed an appeal contesting the ITF Davis Cup Committee’s November 4 decision to shift the November 29-30 tie to a neutral venue.

PTF had argued that if Indian pilgrims can visit Pakistan without any security threat, why can’t the Indian team play matches in Islamabad, but the Independent Tribunal of the world governing body kept the games at a neutral venue.

“The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) appealed the Davis Cup Committee decision to move the tie from Islamabad. The appeal was dismissed by an independent tribunal on Monday 18 November,” ITF said in a statement.

“Further to the decision of the PTF not to nominate a neutral venue, in accordance with Davis Cup regulations, the Davis Cup Committee has voted in favour of the tie being hosted by the ITF on neutral ground at the National Tennis Centre in Nur-Sultan (previously Astana), Kazakhstan on 29-30 November,” the statement added.

The matches will be played on indoor courts since extreme cold conditions there won’t allow them to be staged outside.

“Playing indoor suits our players. It will work in our favour, not that our players can’t play on grass but they a lot more comfortable on hard courts. The weather conditions are harsh and though we are playing indoors, it still affects the body,” India coach Zeeshan Ali said.

“The quality of tennis is better playing indoors because factors like sun and wind do not affect the matches.” The tie was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in September but was pushed to November 29-30 after India expressed concerns about the safety of their players due to diplomatic tensions between the two nations.