Officials have announced that Leander Paes has resigned as the captain of India’s Davis Cup, thereby terminating a rocky two year dominance that witnessed the revolt of co-players against him in February. It was informed by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) that 35 year old Paes voiced his decision to resign during Beijing Olympics, but will continue as a member of the four-man team.
The AITA statement informed that Shiv Misra, an ex-Davis Cupper, has been anointed non-playing captain for the World Cup play-off tie in Romania in September. Leander Paes happens to be the country’s most successful Davis Cup campaigner since his entry in 1990. He was also a singles bronze medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The Indian tennis team, including Mahesh Bhupathi, told the AITA in February that they did not want to play under Paes due to a communication gap between them. The AITA, however, responded that Leander Paes will continue as captain for the April tie against Japan and that no changes were possible till the Beijing Olympics.
