Appeal not in spirit of game: Amarnath

"This is a game and you don't use such ploys to win a game," said former cricketer.

Mohinder Amarnath joined the list of former players who criticised Indian skipper Rahul Dravid and his team for appealing for the 'obstructing the field' dismissal of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq in the first ODI, saying the incident could strain relations between the two teams.

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Talking to the media during his visit to the city to conduct a coaches' seminar, the straight-talking cricketer said, "It happened to me in 1989 in the Nehru Cup match against Sri Lanka. The Indian team should not have appealed. This is a game and you don't use such ploys to win a game."

"The ball would neither have hit the stumps nor did Inzamam try to stop it deliberately. I honestly feel that the Indian captain's appeal was not in good taste. There was no need for him to appeal," he said.

"This can have bad repurcussions on the relationship between the two sides. The players could react to minor things now," one of the key players in India's 1983 World cup winning squad added.

Continuing on Rahul Dravid and his captaincy, he said, "It will be unfair to compare him with Sourav Ganguly. He is doing well for now. But after losing the Test series in Pakistan, he will be under tremendous pressure during the England series."

"He needs time to settle down," he added.

On Sourav Ganguly being dropped from the ODI side, he said, "In the first place he should not have been dropped. I believe he still has some cricket left in him. He is not playing his natural game as his position is no longer secured in the side. This is no way to treat a senior player."

At the same time he was disappointed at the way Ganguly said he was ready to bat anywhere, "A player of his stature should not beg for a place.