Rebel players approach Sports ministry

AITA was forced to pick an inexperienced side, which has only one top player in Leander Paes, to take on South Korea after the revolting players did not make themselves available by the stipulated deadline of January 11.

Even the AITA Vice President Karti Chidambaram, who is said to be at loggerheads with the AITA top brass, has also written to the Ministry, saying that the national federation selected the team well before the ITF deadline and could have resolved the issue in that period.

The last date to submit the squad is January 22.

AITA accommodated many demands of players, including change in support staff and an increased share in prize money and later added three more concessions.

Since the latest concessions, made on January 10, were not communicated to the players in writing, the rebels continued to remain unavailable. However they later said that if they had got those offers in writing, they could have reconsidered their stand.

"We have written to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, requesting the Hon'ble Minister's intervention into the stance adopted by the AITA, as well as an enquiry into the actions of the AITA over the past few weeks," a joint statement by the players said.

"We believe that the AITA should divulge its reasoning behind the decision to field an inexperienced team at the crucial Davis Cup Group I fixture to be held in February against South Korea.

"We are hopeful of a beneficial and amicable outcome that would substantially change, for the better, the system of sports administration in India," the statement added.

However, Sports Secretary P K Deb said they cannot enter a territory which does not belong to them. More