Paes quits as India's Davis Cup captain
BEIJING (AFP) — Leander Paes has resigned as India's Davis Cup captain, officials said on Wednesday, ending a tumultous two-year reign that saw a players' revolt against him in February.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) said Paes, 35, had informed officials of his decision to step down during the Beijing Olympics, but will remain a member of the four-man squad.
Former Davis Cupper Shiv Misra has been appointed non-playing captain for the World Cup play-off tie in Romania from September 19-21, an AITA statement said.
Paes, an Olympic singles bronze medallist in Atlanta in 1996, remains India's most successful Davis Cup campaigner with 83 wins in singles and doubles against 31 losses since his debut in 1990.
The Indian squad, including Paes' erstwhile doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi, wrote to the AITA in February that they did not want to play under him because of a communication gap with the players.
The AITA retained Paes as captain for the April tie against Japan, saying no changes would be made till the Beijing Olympics.
Paes and Bhupathi, who won three Grand Slam doubles titles in 1999, parted company on the circuit a year later amid a series of well-publicised feuds.
The duo, however, come together to play for India in the Davis Cup, Olympics and the Asian Games.
The Indian pair, who lost the bronze medal play-off in Athens four years ago, were beaten by the Swiss pair of Roger Federer and Stanilas Wawrinka in the quarter-finals here last week.
India have named Paes, Bhupathi, Somdev Dev Varman and Prakash Amritraj for the away tie against Romania next month.
