Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Prakash Amritraj have now declared that they will play the Davis Cup tie against Japan in April.
Will play tie against Japan under captain Leander Paes
BANGLORE: Stepping away from their earlier stand of no compromise on the captain issue, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Prakash Amritraj have now declared that they will play the Davis Cup tie against Japan in April.
The abrupt about-turn from their earlier stand was announced by Vijay Amritraj here on Friday, who said he has been instrumental in bringing this about after “extended discussions with 99% of the team”. He also added that he did not speak to captain Leander Paes. The decision was announced in time to meet the AITA’s deadline of March 10 for a final answer on their availability to play.
The players’ letter which raised issues about Paes’ captaincy still stands, according to Vijay, and discussions on the same will continue after the tie. As of now the players have expressed willingness to continue under Paes. Vijay Amritraj also read out a note from the players saying that “playing for the country is of paramount importance and there is no greater honour. With our only goal being playing for the country and with all other issues very much on the table, we look forward to playing Japan at home in April”.
The players have been forced to backtrack on account of the tough stand taken by the AITA.
The federation refused to back down in the face of what it construed to be a challenge to its authority and the extended discussion that Bhupathi and Paes had at Dubai also did not offer the rebels any room for their demands being met. The players have apparently been forced to toe the line by the AITA and they would obviously have been concerned at the negative fallout that would have taken place if they refused to play for India.
While Bhupathi and Bopanna are doing well on the doubles tour, Prakash, as of now, has the Davis Cup platform alone to carry on the legacy of his father and uncle. Being the astute diplomat that he is, Vijay would have surely advised him on the negative fallout of an Amritraj refusing to play for the country, no matter what the problems.
The team now goes into the crucial world group playoff tie with the major issue unresolved. On the query as to just how comfortable the players would feel with Paes in the captain’s chair, Amritraj said: “The captain can chose whoever he wants to sit in the chair.” Prakash and Bopanna have categorically stated that they are uncomfortable with Paes during a match. But then they had also categorically stated that they would not play unless he is removed.
The change in stance is a welcome development for India’s chances in the tie but does raise a question mark on what to believe and what not to when disgruntled players go to the press.
The present impasse in no way denotes a victory for Paes in this conflict. The AITA is liable to withdraw its support from the beleaguered captain once the April tie and the Olympics are done with provided the rebel players perform in April.
Victory alone will allow them a stronger platform to negotiate from, no matter how pertinent the issue they have raised.
As of now this is just the interval, the show will go on after Beijing.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}