The Board of Control for Cricket in India's decision to limit the number of endorsements of a player drew flak from one of their former members Jaywant Lele who termed it as an infringement of their fundamental right.

The former BCCI secretary said Tuesday from Vadodara that this was a needless act by the board as non-performing players would automatically lose their sponsors.

"It's an infringement of the players' fundamental right (to earn a living). I don't agree with the decision to put a cap on the endorsements.

"If they are not doing well, they can always be dropped which would lead to the sponsors deserting them," Lele said.

But Lele supported board for demanding copies of the players' endorsement deals to be sent to them for its perusal.

He also supported the decision to introduce performance-based payment to the players and removal of graded retainers.

"I fully support Shashank Manohar (BCCI vice president) that there should be performance-linked payment to the players. The graded retainers also need to be abolished. All players are serving the game equally," he said.

Lele, however, expressed doubts at the board's decision to have fully paid selectors.

According to him enough support may not be forthcoming at the board's Special General Meeting when it's convened to amend the constitution suitably.

"According to me there are not more than ten associations from which senior selection committee members can be chosen. Why should the others support this move," Lele wondered.

He was also not in favour of abolishing the zonal system of forming selection committees. He felt the existing system was the best as India was a vast country. The former board secretary said the critical issue was the choice of members on the panel.

"India is a big country and appointment of a selector from each of the five zones is a good system. The more important issue is choice of the selector," Lele said.

"Only those who have got time on hand to do the job well should be on the committee and not MPs who can't devote time," he added, referring to East Zone selector and former MP Ranjib Biswal of Orissa.

Lele was also against the idea of appointing Test players on the senior selection panel, as suggested by some former players to the BCCI.

"There are first class players who are more knowledgeable than some Test players. If you are talking about the importance of understanding the pressure of playing at the highest level, what about players who have been on tours with the Indian team but had not played in a Test?" he countered.

Lele also felt that associations which do not possess their own grounds should not be allowed to host important matches, including ODIs, which is also the plight of Baroda Cricket Association, formerly represented by him.

"Only venues which have their own grounds with good infrastructure should host important matches whether they are domestic ties, ODIs or Tests," he said.