e decision an "unjustifiable compromise". If the players are going to pick themselves, what for are the selectors and what for is the governing body? And whatever happened to the code of conduct for the players?
That said, the AITA has not helped matters. It is no secret that the country's two top male tennis stars have been at loggerheads for a while now. The tennis authorities should have foreseen this crisis and been proactive to ensure that things did not come to such a pass, particularly if Lee-Hesh was going to be their choice. They should have initiated a dialogue between the players, individually and collectively. Bhupathi has said he has not spoken to Paes since November. That does not reflect well on the country or the game and the AITA cannot escape its share of the blame.
There is talk in tennis circles that the AITA could ban Bhupathi for two years if he refuses to play with Paes. That would serve little purpose. The AITA's managers must persuade the players to come on board. For that, they should ensure that the public warfare among them ends immediately.