Former Pak player criticises Paes for one-man team comment

Lahore, Mar 29 (UNI) Lashing out at Leander Paes for calling Pakistan a ''one-man team'', former captain and Asian Games gold medalist Jamil Ahmed said the Indian captain would do well to focus on his own team rather then pass such ''childish'' remarks.

''Any sensible person who knows what Davis Cup tennis is all about, would never say that one player can win the tie for his country,'' he told reporters.

Paes had said India were favourites to win the tie as Pakistan were a one-man team with Aisam Quereshi being their main player.

''There is no denying that Aisam has been the major force, and instrumental in Pakistan winning many a Davis Cup fixtures. Yet one certainly cannot right off Aqeel Khan. Some of the best tennis exhibited by Aqeel indeed has been in the Davis Cup fixtures, especially on grass,'' Ahmed said reacting to Paes' comments.

He said suggestions that the Indians will have it easy against Pakistan were also not correct as India's higher rank will not have any bearing on the match.

''World rankings do not matter all that much in a Davis Cup tie,'' he said.

Ahmed said the Indians should concentrate on their team and be worried about Mahesh Bhupathi's hamstring injury. He said Bhupathi's absence would make the doubles contest much more competitive.

''Without Bhupathi, their No. 1 doubles player, the Indians would feel the pinch for in Bhupathi's absence they would lose one advantage they had over Pakistan. Any team can win the doubles now,'' he said.

''The Indian players might be ranked higher than ours but that doesn't mean that Aisam and Aqeel can't beat them. Our duo has an even chance of winning the most keenly contested tie,'' Jamil said.

Bhupathi had suffered the injury during a training session but later said he would recover in time for the tie scheduled next month.

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