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Leander to be non-playing captain

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Leander Paes has been announced as the non-playing captain for the Asia-Oceania Group ‘I’ Davis Cup tie to be played against Uzbekistan on grass at the R.K. Khanna Stadium here from February 8 to 10.

The Chairman of the selection committee, Anil Dhupar, read out the names of Mahesh Bhupathi, Prakash Amritraj, Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Dev Varman as the other members of the team.

The reigning hardcourt and grasscourt National champions, Ashutosh Singh and Vishnu Vardhan, will also join the team and help in its preparation.

Akhtar Ali and Balram Singh were the other members of the selection committee who met here on Tuesday and discussed over phone with the co-chairman S.P. Mishra in finalising the team. It was stated that Paes had torn a ligament of his leg at the Australian Open but would be trying his best to be fit for the tie, irrespective of being ready to play or not.

As per the Davis Cup rules, the final team can be announced an hour before the draw. The Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, will make the draw at 9.30 a.m. on February 7.

India had lost to Uzbekistan 1-4 last year at Namangan, but had beaten the team 5-0 at home on grass in Jaipur earlier.

The secretary general of the AITA, Anil Khanna said that he had followed wild card Denis Istomin’s four-set second round match against Lleyton Hewitt at the ongoing Australian Open, stressing that he had respect for the strength of Uzbekistan’s singles players.

The Uzbek team is expected to arrive on January 29 to prepare in earnest for the tie.

Gabriel Mato of Spain will be the referee and Ted Watts of Britain will be one of the umpires for the tie.

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