The Doha Asian Games off-court spat between Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, and national coach Nandan Bal’s reported involvement in the entire issue has now led to the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to decide on wholesale changes to the Davis Cup team management. A well-placed source in the AITA told The Indian Express today: “During the AGM held at Indore earlier this month, we discussed that a change is required. Many people have been in their positions for long and we need to look at others for the top jobs now. The Davis Cup selection committee will undergo a change. We are also looking for new coaches for both Davis Cup and Fed Cup.” (Enrico Piperno is the current Fed Cup coach). Talking about who will replace Davis Cup coach Bal, it has been reliably learnt that former India player Sandeep Kirtane has been approached by the AITA for the post. As a source put it: “Anil Khanna (AITA secretary-general) met Kirtane on Friday (January 19) and asked him about his passport details. Khanna later told Kirtane that they were planning to send him with the team to Uzbekistan.” The source also pointed out that both Bal and Kirtane might be sent to Uzbekistan and that the change at the helm may come into effect after the February 9-11 tie. Asked if Bal’s comments in Doha went against him, the source said: “The incident definitely left a very bad taste in the mouth. The officials didn’t like it. Everyone was commenting that it was a very unprofessional thing to do. The incident made the youngsters in the team insecure. They didn’t know where to go. They thought if they talked to Bhupathi, the captain (Paes) might be offended and vice-versa. They were scared to discuss things with the coach (Bal) too. “So, the AITA now wants to avoid such controversies in the future ties and is looking to incorporate a more healthy system where the new coach would be more like a friend to the players and mix with the youngsters freely.” Kirtane, a member of the Davis Cup squad in 1997, may have scored on that count. The 33-year-old who coaches national champion Purav Raja, travelled with the junior Davis Cup team (comprising Sanam Singh, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Rupesh Roy) to Barcelona in 2002. He has also travelled with the likes of Sania Mirza and other juniors for ITF meets abroad in the past. Kirtane who hails from Pune but is based in Mumbai, is also associated with the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and often travels with the juniors.The source added: “The fact that Kirtane knows youngsters like Karan (Rastogi), Sanam and others who will represent India in the future obviously gives him the edge. They (the AITA) are looking at a new coach who will hear the youngsters out for they too may have valuable inputs to provide.” Asked if former Davis Cupper Zeeshan Ali’s name too is being discussed for the post of the Davis Cup coach, the source said: “It could be possible. Since the AITA is looking for new coaches for both Davis and Fed cups, they might get one of the two posts.” Akhtar Ali, father of the Dubai-based Zeeshan only said: “These things are floating in the air. But I’ve also heard about it.” With Paes, Bopanna and Rastogi selecting themselves for the tie against Uzbekistan, the fourth member will be chosen among the younger lot that is playing the Futures on clay here, incidentally the very surface for the Davis Cup tie. Kirtane, who is here to take part in the Futures — he’s playing doubles with ward Raja - refused to comment. A clearer picture is expected by January 29 as the Davis Cup team has to be announced 10 days before the tie. While the chairman of selectors Akhtar Ali said the current selection committee (including S P Mishra and Shyam Minotra besides himself) will expire after the tie against Uzbekistan, it remains to be seen if Bal will travel with the team or not.
