The BCCI has asked skipper MS Dhoni to stop complaining about the tight schedule in the Asia Cup and play the game.

Reacting strongly to Dhoni's comments to reporters about how "we have spent 36 hours playing cricket out of the 84 hours we spent in Karachi", BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla said players who need rest should inform the Board in advance so that they can be replaced.

"If a player wants rest, he can inform the Board and we'll be happy to send replacements. The schedule of Asia Cup was known well in advance," he said.

"Sachin had informed us well in advance and hence he was not picked," he added.

The BCCI vice-president also minced no words in saying that even Indian Premier League (IPL) had tight schedule but the players didn't complain about it.

"IPL also had back to back matches but everybody played," he said.

Dhoni seems to be miffed with the way the schedule sees India playing two back-to-back matches in both the stages of the tournament.

"Two teams have to play back to back matches while two have got a day off. It is not easy on the players," Dhoni said.

However, the interesting point is that the BCCI had an opportunity to ask for a change in the Asia Cup schedule since the fixtures were "circulated" six weeks in advance, but for some reasons it remained mute.

"The fixtures were drawn up by the hosts, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and sent to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for approval... Before giving our okay, we'd circulated it to the concerned Boards. Nobody had reservations," a senior ACC official was quoted as saying by a Pakistan daily.

Dhoni's point, which looked valid, was that only two teams (India, Sri Lanka) have back-to-back matches in the Super Four stage. Clearly, the PCB has taken advantage, but it was up to the other Boards to ask for changes.

"India would've done the same, had the Asia Cup been there. It's not that big an issue but, yes, changes could've been asked for and effected," the ACC official pointed out.