NEW DELHI, February 25: Former Indian all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath today criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for hiring Aussie Bobby Simpson as consultant for the Indian team.Amarnath also wondered whether any purpose would be served in bringing in a foreigner in such a role as there were many equally eligible people at home.``I agree with having a foreign trainer as there is no professional trainer in India and our team lacks fitness. But I don't agree with coaches.Anshuman (Gaekwad) himself has played the game at the highest level,'' he said of the present coach while disagreeing with the Board for hiring the Aussie as consultant.``I respect Bob as a friend and cricketer. But our own players have coached abroad,'' he said referring to his own tenure with Bangladesh and such jobs undertaken by Madan Lal, Sandeep Patil, Hanumant Singh and Chandrakant Pandit.He also described as ``ridiculous'' bcci jettisoning off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan for his action.Backing formercaptain Kapil Dev's ire at the BCCI action on Chauhan, controversially dropped on an ICC directive based on Bob Simpson's report and now sought to be reinstated, he said, ``BCCI should start supporting players.''``No one called him for throwing in a match. Spending two days in London with Fred (Titmus, former England off-spinner chosen by ICC to rectify his action) will not change his action. In the middle, a bowler thinks of taking wickets, not about his action,'' he added.Amarnath also strongly advocated a fresh look at the national selection panel, insisting that only Test players who have appeared in atleast 25 matches should be given the post.``Twenty five matches will take at least five years and any player who is in the team that long would have developed a good perspective. First class cricketers making it to the panel won't do,'' he said. He strongly backed Rahul Dravid's inclusion in both the Test and One-Day squads, disagreeig with the selectors' view that he slow for ODIs.
