Earlier this week the Board of Control for Cricket in India sent out a veiled threat, saying under-performing players will be called back from South Africa.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said the Board has the "full power" to call back any player if he isn't performing.

"Selection committee can always call anybody back and replace him with a new player. Board and selection committee have the full power in this regard. But first we would be watching the performance in the first Test," Shah told a news channel.

However, chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar did not share Shah's viewpoint. He said unless a team member gets injured or is not able to continue playing for any other reason, he would not be asked to go back.

In Indian cricket history players have never been recalled from a tour for reasons other than injury or indiscipline.

The legendary Lala Amarnath was sent back from the 1936 tour of England [Images] on charges of indiscipline while former opener-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu had walked out of the 1996 tour of England on his own volition.

The Indian team has received a lot of flak after being whitewashed in the one-day series in South Africa, and Shah said such a harsh step is necessary if the players are unable to give their best.

There is also talk about introducing a performance-based clause in the players' contracts.

Is it right to recall a player from a foreign tour if he is not playing well? Is the BCCI going a step too far in adopting a stance?

Tell us