KOLKATA, May 30: Indian Cricket Players’ Association vice-president and former Test player Arun Lal on Friday lambasted Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its “arbitrary nature” of appointing officials for overseas tours of senior and India `A’ sides.

Alleging that post of manager for senior team was decided keeping in mind capability of person to garner votes, Lal said often greenhorns, who had little rapport with players, were given such plum assignments.

In an apparent reference to Ashok Malhotra, he said former batsman was made coach of India `A’ team and soon after named India’s coach during Bangladesh tour in April.

“Surely, he must have excelled as India ‘A’ coach in Bangladesh. But only a month later he was dumped and Sandip Patil was selected coach of `A’ side for coming England tour,” Lal said.

Questioning the motive behind such appointments, he said: “it is wrong to appoint and sack individuals in such an arbitrary manner and would not help in maintaining image of BCCI or coaches. It also adversely affects long-term prospects of ‘A’ team exercise.”—PPI