Gavaskar, who is also the chairman of ICC’s cricket committee, said he was surprised at cricketers complaining about the calender as representing one’s country was an honour.

“I can’t see the problem, these players are turning out for their countries, it’s an honour to represent your country. I would be willing to sweat 365 days in a year for India. Those who can’t stand the heat should stay out,” Gavaskar said on a television programme.

The former India captain was reacting to recent reports of a possible strike by international cricketers if the ICC did not reduce the number of matches.

“We’re frustrated, we’re concerned and we’re disappointed that the ICC and member countries aren’t abiding by principles that are supposed to be abided by in the scheduling of tours,” Tim May, the president of the Federation of International Cricketers Association, was quoted as saying in the Australian media.

“It’s a revenue-raising frenzy. It’s pushing the players into a position where they’re just going to say, ‘no, it’s too much, we’re walking away from this, we’re not going to play in these games’”, May said.