Not right to reveal details of selection meetings: Srikkanth

Chennai: Former Selection Committee chairman Kris Srikkanth, who has been accused of shielding Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni despite poor performances, on Thursday hit back saying that it is not right to rake up issues discussed in the panel meetings.

Former selector Mohinder Amarnath has opened a pandora`s box by stating that three selectors out of the five-member panel wanted Dhoni to be sacked but they were overruled by BCCI President N Srinivasan. Srikkanth, who headed the panel which persisted with Dhoni as captain despite the whitewash in England, today said that it was not appropriate to reveal the details of committee meetings. "I have always maintained that whatever happens in the selection committee meetings should remain within the four walls. It is not right for me or anyone to come out and say what exactly happened," Srikkanth told reporters here. "It`s just like a company`s Board meetings where lot of discussions happen about what to do and what not to do for the company`s growth. But nobody comes out in public and tells what (has) happened," he said. Refusing to give pointed reactions to the allegations made by Amarnath, Srikkanth said, "We discuss a lot of issues in the selection committee meetings, captaincy of Dhoni or X,Y,Z always come up in the meetings. "We always have detailed discussion on captaincy issues, ex-players, team combination. But at the end of the day it is always consensus," he added. Srikkanth said the focus should be diverted from the controversies to ensure that the team, which is currently playing to save the series against England, is not distracted. "We should just move on. Yes, Indian cricket is going through tough times and let`s hope we do well in the Nagpur Test match and revive," he said. Srikkanth said during his tenure as chief selector, he never shirked responsibility for the team's debacles. "Whatever decision we take is for the good of the country. Sometimes our selection clicks, sometimes it doesn't. It was the same selection committee which won the 2011 World Cup. None of you gave credit," he said. "When we lost badly in England, Australia and what not. I never shied away from the blame," he added. PTI