Former non-playing captain Anand Amritraj slams Bhupathi and Paes for recent controversy regarding selection for India's Davis Cup team
Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes, Anand Amritraj
India's captain Mahesh Bhupathi (right) and Leander Paes during the Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan at Bangalore on Friday. Pic/PTI
New Delhi: The latest episode in the acrimonious relationship between Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi is nothing but a "new chapter in old story", feels former Davis Cup captain Anand Amritraj who holds both the players responsible for the current mess.
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Anand Amritraj
Amritraj, Bhupathi's predecessor, said the captain should have made it clear to Paes that he was not in the playing four and Paes should not have come to Bangalore if he was not assured of a place in the playing squad. "It's just a new chapter in old story. It's just tragic that it has cropped up again. There is fault on both sides. It was pretty badly handled by Mahesh. Why did Mahesh not send a mail to Leander and tell him clearly that you are not in final four? If he had decided to pick Rohan two months back, why keep this guy (Leander) hanging?" Amritraj said.
"Did he want to fool the Uzbeks by picking four singles players? Nobody is going to get fooled like this. And Lee should not have come to Bangalore at all if he was not sure of playing. All this confusion could have been avoided. All Mahesh needed to do was send an e-mail to Leander that he was not being considered in final four and mark a copy to AITA."
Amritraj felt Paes had no reason to stay back in Bangalore, doing nothing. "What's the point in hanging around? The team was already 2-0 up after day one. It was better if he left for the US and get acclimatised to the conditions for the next tournament. There was no point leaving on Monday. He should not have put himself for humiliation. He should not have come to Bangalore," felt Amritraj.
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