Not surprised by how AITA dealt with me but it hurts: Bhupathi

India's former Davis Cup skipper Mahesh Bhupathi on Thursday said he cant get over "hurt" caused by national federation's manner of sacking him but it was hardly a surprise given how body has dealt with players in last two deces. Bhupathi was removed from captain's position by All India Tennis Association (AITA) for refusing to travel to Pakistan for a Davis Cup tie on security grounds. tie is w being be held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan starting Friday. 

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"I am still in touch with boys on a daily basis. I was disappointed with way Federation dealt with it. When y wanted me to become captain, y flew down to Hyderab, h a meeting with me," Bhupathi recalled on sidelines of an event here.

"I don't mind if y think that it is time for me to step out, but a courtesy phone call saying 'listen we think it is time to put someone new in system' and I would have respected that but I didn't even get that call.

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"Honestly way federation has dealt with t only me but everyone in Indian tennis for last 20 years, re is surprise. But at some level it kind of hurts," he ded. 

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Bhupathi said he agreed to job as he h a vision for Indian tennis. "I don't think at that time I was rey to take on captaincy, but y me a hard sell and committed to a certain amount of support on what I wanted to create as a system and got me to agree to take a job," he said.  Talking about tie against Pakistan, Bhupathi said Team India would win without much trouble. "It will be absolutely t difficult for m (Indian) to beat Pakistan anywhere in this world...we were always going to beat Pakistan regardless of where we played and who played for Pakistan," he said.  " bottom line is that w good news is we have a semi-decent draw- if we win we are playing Croatia," Bhupathi ded. He was speaking after inaugurating newly re-laid tennis courts at iconic Khar Gymkhana here in presence of Sania Mirza, Gymkhana's President Vivek Devnani and secretary Gaurav Kapia. 45-year-old was replaced by Rohit Rajpal as India's Davis Cup captain. 

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