No end to tennis row, players reject AITA proposal

New Delhi: The crisis that has rocked Indian tennis escalated on Monday with the players rejecting the compromise formula offered by the AITA, which in turn has now decided not to bend its back any more.

The eight revolting players, led by Somdev Devvarman, sent their response to the national tennis body this evening and demanded that all their demands be fulfilled. The AITA, however, is no mood to listen to the players and has warned that the national tennis body would not mind going ahead with the South Korea tie without them. It has also been learnt that the players are not happy with the AITA sharing its proposal with the media. "They want us to reconsider our proposal. They want us to agree to all of their demands. But whatever we have had to offer we have. We have extended out maximum support," AITA CEO Hironmoy Chatterjee told PTI. "They are trying to enter area to which they have no obligation and prerogative. A player can not be administrator, selector and a player at the same time," a fuming Chatterjee said. The senior AITA official said they cannot offer more to the players and will field only those for the South Korea tie, who will make themselves available. "We have a selection meeting on the 11th and if players want to play they will have to make themselves available. If they do not want to play, it`s their choice," Chatterjee said, sending out a stern warning to the players. The AITA, yesterday, accommodated many of the players` demands by replacing coach Nandal Bal with Zeeshan Ali. It also removed Dr Vece Paes and physiotherapist Sanjay Singh and promised to seek their replacements from the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The AITA also increased the players share in the Davis Cup prize money. PTI