The AITA today formed athree-member committee, including Justice Deepak Verma andformer Davis Cupper Naresh Kumar, to resolve the issues withthe rebel players, but its suggestions apparently would not bebinding on the national tennis federation.
Apart from Verma, a former justice of Supreme court, andKumar, the committee has retired bureaucrat M C Gupta as thethird member.
The decision to appoint the committee was taken at theAll India Tennis Association Executive Committee meeting here.
The committee will discuss the issues with the rebelplayers and before giving a final report within four months,it will file an interim report so that top players could bebrought back for the next tie, slated for April 5-7 in India.
Asked what was the need of forming the committee when theplayers just wanted an assurance in writing, AITA CEO HironmoyChatterjee said they wanted a certain process to the end.
"This policy of blackmailing has been going on for long.
The availability came with pre-conditions and we do notappreciate that. We want to stop it. It is a neutral committeeand I am hopeful that the suggestions it would make would beacceptable to both the parties," Chatterjee said.
"It's a step forward, pre-conditions are not welcome.
Hopefully, they (players) will not challenge this committee."
Asked if the suggestions of the committee would bebinding on AITA, Chatterjee said, "I am not saying that".
Since AITA will give terms and references to thecommittee, it was asked how then the committee can be brandedas neutral, to which Chatterjee said since none of thecommittee members are associated with AITA in any way, it wasneutral.
When pointed out that if the committee makes suggestionswhich the AITA does not like, the CEO said he was hopeful thatit will not come up with anything which will be "unacceptableto anyone".
If the players refrain from accepting the committee'ssuggestions or even refuse to talk, the status quo will remainon the issue. The players are expected to respond to theformation of the committee tomorrow.
Chatterjee made it clear that if the players don't acceptthe final decision, then "they will have to sit out".
The committee, which will have its first meeting onFebruary 22, will not delve into issues concerning selectionof support staffs, but can talk to the players on the matter.
AITA had agreed to most of the demands of the players,giving them business class airfares and increasing their sharein Davis Cup prize money, but put its foot down on selectionmatters.
The players had demanded that captain S P Misra, coachNandan Bal and physiotherapist Sanjay Singh, doctor Vece Paesbe changed. AITA had agreed but said the players cannot imposetheir choice as selection was prerogative of the federation.
AITA had removed Bal, Paes and Singh, but stuck withMisra for at least the Korea tie.
The executive committee has not yet decided if Misra willcontinue although it was said that he will be given abefitting farewell.
The committee has approved the name of Dr Paes as AITA'smedical advisor for the implementation of the Sports Scienceprogramme in the Capital.
It appreciated the services rendered by Bal and Singh tothe Davis Cup team.
The AITA also claimed that the issue with the Tamil NaduTennis Association, which had questioned the national body'sgovernance method, "has been resolved". Chatterjee though, didnot elaborate.
TNTA vice-president, Karti Chidambaram, had sided withthe rebel players and had written to the Sports Ministry,asking it to intervene and help resolve the crisis.