Indian Head Coach Ravi Shastri put his thoughts about the selection of teams for ICC’s multi-nation tournaments. He is in favour of the 16-member squad in long tournaments like the upcoming World Cup. Which will be played in England and Wales from May 30. Shastri wants to avoid heartbreaks for the players like Ambati Rayudu and Rishabh Pant failed to make the cut in India’s squad for the World Cup.

Shastri came in support of 16-man squad for such tournaments and urged the players who were left out ‘not to lose hope’. Meanwhile, he mentioned that he wasn’t involved in the meeting of team selection as all the opinions were put forward to skipper Virat Kohli.

Also Read: BCCI announced the Indian squad for the World Cup

“I don’t get involved in selection. If we have any opinion, we let the captain known,” Shastri said. He said that someone or the other had to miss out due to the limitation to stick to 15 players. The head coach still opined that 16 members made more sense for a one-and-a-half months’ long tournament.

“When you only have 15 to pick, there is bound to be someone or the other who misses out, which is very unfortunate. I would have preferred 16 players. We had mentioned to the ICC that in a tournament that long, 16 players makes sense. But the diktat was 15,” he added as quoted in The Times of India.

Also Read: Twitter erupted after BCCI announced Indian squad for the WC

Shastri also consolidates the players who were left out as he admitted that cricket is a funny game and there might be injuries preventing players from participating in the tournament.

“They (who missed out) shouldn’t lose heart. It’s a funny game. There could be injuries. So you never know when you could be called up,” he said.

While concluding, he mentioned that England is the favourite to lift their maiden World Cup this time around.