Date:13/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/13/stories/2006121302881900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Under-performers will be called back: BCCI

New Delhi: In a veiled threat, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday sent out a message that under-performing players will be called back from South Africa, a view with which Chief Selector Dilip Vengsarkar does not agree.

The BCCI Secretary, Niranjan Shah, said the Board had the ``power'' to call back any player if he was not delivering the goods.

``The Selection Committee can always call anybody back and replace him with a new player. The Board and Selection Committee have full power in this regard. But first we would be watching the performance in the first Test,'' he told CNN-IBN.

However, Shah's comments were downplayed by Vengsarkar, currently in South Africa to give his inputs on selection matters to the team management.

``That is his viewpoint. I cannot comment on that. They (players) are here because they have been picked for the tour. (Only if) a player is injured or unavailable for selection, then we will call somebody else.''

Shah and Vengsarkar also did not seem to agree on the issue of bowling coach. Shah said, ``the team has not made any demand for it (bowling coach). It is Vengsarkar's personal opinion.''

Vengsarkar has openly supported the appointment of a bowling coach for the team. — PTI