BCCI snubbed my offer to Team India: Engineer

Former stumper Farokh Engineer on Wednesday said that he had offered his services to coach Duncan Fletcher as an unpaid advisor for Team India for the ongoing Test series but was snubbed by the BCCI.

"Before the series began, I offered my services to the team for free as an unpaid consultant, but I didn't get any response," Engineer was quoted as saying in the 'Manchester Evening News'.

India were thoroughly outplayed by a dominant England in the series which is already in the pocket of the hosts after winning three Tests in a row to dethrone the visitors from the ICC number one ranking.

The former wicketkeeper, who played 46 Tests during the 1960s and 70s, said he was amazed at the underpreparedness of the Indian team.

"It amazes me that India weren't more prepared going into the series," Manchester-based Engineer said.

"Especially so considering Duncan Fletcher is a former England coach. These people get huge sums of money, but what exactly are they doing to earn it?

"Not many people in the India ranks know English conditions better than I do," added the 73-year-old, who made England his home since his nine-year stint with Lancashire.

Engineer is surprised at the lackluster show by the Indians, who, he said, failed in all departments of the game.

"There is something wrong somewhere because India haven't just lost, they have been outplayed in every department of the game. England have been in charge with the bat, the ball, in the field and in the captaincy," he said.

"India have had their injury problems, and the loss of Zaheer Khan was a big blow. But even if he had played, England would have still won the series convincingly.

"India have so many experienced batsmen, they have been surprised by the quality of England's bowlers in these conditions," he added.