Rejecting suggestions that selection goof-ups led to India's humiliating defeat in the first Test against South Africa, chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth on Wednesday said he is still ready to face the sack if held responsible for the debacle.
India lost the match by an innings and six runs yesterday and former players and critics felt the team desperately missed a specialist batsman in the absence of the injured duo of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
Laxman's cover Rohit Sharma injured himself just minutes before the toss, forcing the selection of rookie Wriddhiman Saha, who was initially picked in the squad as a reserve wicketkeeper.
But Srikkanth refuted the criticism, saying that the selectors could not be held responsible if a reserve batsman also ends up on the injured list on the morning of the match.
"The whole thing would not have blown up had Rohit played. The questions that are being raised are about Saha's selection. He is actually a wicketkeeper who can bat a bit. But he proved himself well in the match," Srikkanth told a news channel.
"As the chairman of the selection panel, I am willing to own up responsibility. It's a lesson learnt and from now on, we will not select players who are not 100 per cent fit," he said, referring to Laxman's selection in the squad despite the uncertainty over his availability ahead of the match. PTI
