Mid-Day

“The issue can be simply resolved by a face-to-face dialogue. I feel ashamed. This whole thing is now a complete impasse,” said at the unveiling of Mumbai Blasters team jersey ahead of the Maharashtra Tennis League at MSLTA on Saturday.

Mumbai Blasters’ mentor Anand Amritraj at MSLTA. PIC/ Suresh KK

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Friday named a second-string squad for the Davis Cup tie against South Korea on February 1-3 in New Delhi after the country’s top eight players — Somdev Devvarman, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, Vishnu Vardhan, Sanam Singh, Divij Sharan and Saketh Myneni — refused to make themselves available for selection following the AITA’s refusal to accept their demands for a series of administrative changes. Amritraj was in fact, the rebelling players’ choice for captain instead of SP Misra.

“I might be the players’ choice but AITA have said nothing to me,” said Amritraj. Meanwhile, the AITA is set to appoint a special committee on February 3 to address the demands made by the revolting players.