Pakistan had been due to host the best-of-five series from July 10-12, but the International Tennis Federation said the Philippines will now have the choice of venue "based upon existing advice from the ITF's security consultants.''
"The Philippines has been told, 'It's your right to host it now. Can you tell us where and when?''' ITF spokesman Neil Robinson said Wednesday.
Pakistan, which reached the semifinals of the Asia-Oceania zone's Group II by beating Oman 4-1 earlier this month, had also been scheduled to host the first round series. Instead, it was played in the Omani capital of Muscat because the ITF's security consultant advised the tennis body to change the venue to another country.
"I believe we went back to them and they said no change,'' Robinson said, noting that the Davis Cup Committee makes the final decision.
Last week, tennis authorities in the Philippines asked that the series be moved to Manila due to fears of its players being attacked. Three of the five Filipino players, including Cecil Mamiit, are dual U.S.-Philippine citizens and Philippine Lawn Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva feared they may be targeted because of their American passports.
Pakistan Tennis Federation secretary Rashid Khan said the series should be held in a third country.
"If they think that the security situation is not ideal here, then the tie should be organized at a neutral venue,'' Khan said. "If the security is not good in Pakistan, we don't think that the (security) situation is too good in the Philippines.''
On March 3, gunman attacked Sri Lanka's cricket team as it traveled by bus in Lahore. Six police officers were killed and seven team members injured. It was the most high-profile attack on a sports team since 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were killed at the 1972 Munich Games.
Since the attack, several events have been pulled from Pakistan, including a junior tennis tournament that had been scheduled for Karachi.
The Pakistan tennis federation still has the right to appeal the ITF's decision.
"We've not heard anything yet,'' Robinson said.
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AP Sports Writer Rizwan Ali in Islamabad contributed to this report.
