BCCI blocked Dhoni's removal as captain?

When Mohinder Amarnath was made the national selector last year, eye-brows were raised. But as expected, Jimmy was sacked within the first year of his assignment.

Amarnath is known to be an outspoken man, be it his criticism of India's obsession with foreign coaches or selectors making weak decisions. He was never expected to toe BCCI's line, and yet the cricket board picked him for the prestigious job. (Read: Amarnath's comments on Dhoni's sacking pushes BCCI on backfoot)

Amarnath took a direct dig at the selectors and said they didn't have the galls to drop Dhoni. "They don't have the galls to drop Dhoni. I don't believe in home advantage. I think if you are good enough, you will play well. This Indian team is not good enough," he said.

With such bold statements, it comes as no surprise that Amarnath was booted out of the selection committee even before his two year term was over.

And now the former selector has created quite a flutter by openly admitting that there were external pressures on the selection committee when the topic of Dhoni's removal was broached.

"Definitely, there were discussions to replace Dhoni and people were agreeing to do so but for some internal reason, it didn't happen. I will not like to divulge what were the reasons. But when the time is right, I will let the people of this country know about the reasons," Amarnath, the hero of India's 1983 World Cup victory, had said.

While Amarnath has refused to divulge more details, it is widely believed that the veteran of 69 Tests and 74 ODIs, who was in line to become the chairman of selectors, was removed by the BCCI as he had a fall-out on the Dhoni captaincy issue.

But BCCI vice-President and Indian Premier League Chairman Rajeev Shukla has rebutted the allegations.

"I will not go into what he has said. I don't think this has ever happened. I don't think it is appropriate to give statements like this," Shukla said.

"Whatever one has to say, one can say while participating in the (selection) meeting. Making comments about it, I think it is not appropriate as it creates some kind of perception in the minds of players and fans," he said.

"Selectors are independent. They are not under any pressure," he asserted.