Mumbai: Indian cricket Board's decision to reject the controversial "Whereabouts" clause of International cricket council's WADA-compliant Anti-Doping Code has evoked mixed reaction from Former Test cricketers.

While flamboyant ex-India batsman Sandeep Patil and former captain Ajit Wadekar backed BCCI's support to the cricketers' stand, another ex-Test batsman Chandu Borde felt the arguments of both the Anti-Doping authorities and the Cricket Board seemed to have some merit.

As per the "Whereabouts" clause some select cricketers belonging to various boards needed to inform the anti-doping authorities their whereabouts for the next three months each quarter in a year and be ready to be tested any day.

The BCCI's Working Committee, at its emergency meeting here on Sunday, rejected the contentious clause saying it was unacceptable after three affected cricketers, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, explained to the members in person about their reasons for opposing it.

Throwing his weight behind the cricketers, Patil said he was happy "that the BCCI has backed the players".

"If I'm in the boots of Yuvraj Singh or Dhoni I would certainly not like to be disturbed when I'm on a holiday. Like every individual, the cricketers too need to have their privacy respected", the ex-India coach said.

Saying he was one hundred per cent in favour of dope tests in cricket, Patil said these, however, should be conducted only just before, during or after a series and not when the players were enjoying a break.

"As professional cricketers they are responsible to their team, board and also to their family," he said.

Former captain Wadekar said there should be different dope-testing norms for cricket which is unlike games such as hockey which were shorter in duration.

"Here I'm talking about Test cricket which is different from short-duration games like hockey. There should be different testing norms for cricket which can't be clubbed with other sports", Wadekar said.

He also felt the ICC could have had a discussion with the various boards and players on this issue instead of allowing it to fester.

"ICC could have discussed this with the other boards and the players. Then they could have sorted this out earlier", said the former India cricket manager.

But Wadekar also felt while the cricketers' stand that their privacy should not be infringed upon was understandable, he cannot fathom how their security could be compromised by signing this clause.

"They all travel with their bodyguards, don't they", he asked.

Borde thought both sides appeared to have arguments in their favour and it would be a good idea for both parties to sit together and find a solution to the vexed issue.

"It seems both have valid arguments to support their respective views. It is advisable for the anti-doping authorities to talk to the cricketers and remove whatever apprehensions they are having. They need to be convinced it's for the betterment of the game," he said.

Borde said during his days the players did not even know about drugs, but things seemed to be different now.

"During our days there was no doping menace at all. But I suppose things are different now. With so much money in the game there could be temptations to the youngsters to go awry which needs to be prevented," he felt.