Prakash Amritraj and Leander Paes after beating Uzbekistan earlier this month

Calcutta/New Delhi: India’s Davis Cup captain Leander Paes, who doesn’t have to prove either his commitment or credentials, has chosen not to react to the revolt by his teammates. However, sources close to him are convinced that one-time buddy and doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi has been instrumental in instigating the others in the Davis Cup squad.

On Saturday, Rohan Bopanna had sent an email to All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary Anil Khanna — with teammates Mahesh Bhupathi, Prakash Amritraj and Karan Rastogi as co-signatories — stating that the players had lost faith in Paes’s captaincy. The email ended by saying that the rebels won’t play under Paes any more. India’s next Davis Cup engagement is against Japan in New Delhi from April 11.

It may be recalled that the iconic Paes, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, had opted to field rookie Somdev Dev Varman on Day I of the Davis Cup tie versus Uzbekistan saying that first-choice Prakash had a stomach sickness. Prakash, however, had insisted that he was ready to play.

Contacted by The Telegraph on Sunday evening, Paes only said “at this point I have no reaction.”

Sources close to him though are convinced that it’s an extension of the friction between Paes and Bhupathi that has been going on for quite some time. Paes’s decision not to field Prakash on Day I — a decision which later turned out to be a masterstroke — came in handy to whip up anti-Paes sentiments.

It appears that Prakash’s father, the iconic Vijay, may also have quietly given his blessings to the revolt that has few parallels in Indian sport.

Meanwhile, Khanna, clearly shaken by the latest and potentially the most damaging controversy to hit Indian tennis, cut a brave face on Sunday.

“The association will do everything possible to settle differences. An executive council meeting will be held before the Japan tie. While we can’t give any dates right now, we will obviously try to clear the air and bring the warring parties to the table,” Khanna said.

It couldn’t be confirmed, but AITA sources said the executive council would form a committee to address the issue. Resolving the dispute through dialogue is on the agenda. Toppling Paes isn’t an option, the sources added.

Akhtar Ali, former Davis Cupper and coach and now an AITA selector, made things clearer by saying no drastic step was on the cards.

“I have had some communication with Khanna. We want to talk to the players individually and together as well. We will try to find out what exactly the problem is.

“Let them give it to us in writing that they don’t want Paes as captain. After that, we will see,” said Ali. “Above all, we will try to persuade them to play under him. We don’t want to jeopardise our chances versus Japan.”

While the AITA is optimistic it will be very surprising if Prakash and Bopanna, who went after Paes in the email, do a volte-face.

Rastogi, who is now out of the Davis Cup team, seems to be the weakest link with AITA sources indicating that he has already done a turnaround and buried the hatchet with the captain.

PAES’S RECORD AS CAPTAIN

Name: Leander Adrian Paes
Date of birth — June 17, 1973
Place of birth — Calcutta
Residence — Calcutta /Orlando, Florida.
Height — 5 feet 10 inches
Weight — 171 lbs. (77.6 kg)
Plays — Right-handed
Turned pro — 1991
Named Davis Cup captain — November 2003

Leander Paes has won six and lost four ties as Davis Cup captain. The following is a glance at India’s performances under him:

Feb 2004, Invercargill
Asia/Oceania Group I, quarter final — Ind bt NZ 3-2

April 2004, Osaka
Asia/Oceania Group I, semi-final — Ind lost to Jpn 2-3

March 2005, New Delhi
Asia/Oceania Group I, quarter final — Ind bt Chn 5-0

April-May 2005, Jaipur
Asia/Oceania Group I, semi-final — Ind bt Uzb 5-0

Sept. 2005, New Delhi
World Group play-off, Round I — Ind lost to Swe 1-3 in IND World Group

Feb. 2006, Changwon
Asia/Oceania Group I, quarter final — Ind lost to Kor 1-4

April 2006, Mumbai
Asia/Oceania Group I, relegation play-off semi-final — Ind bt Pak 3-2

Feb 2007, Namangan
Asia/Oceania Group I, quarter final — Ind lost to Uzb 1-4

April 2007, Almaty
Asia/Oceania Group I, relegation play-off semi-final — Ind bt Kaz 3-2

Feb 2008, New Delhi
Asia/Oceania Zone Group I, Round I — Ind bt Uzb 3-2