MSK Prasad unveils reason behind not including MS Dhoni in squad for T20 series against South Africa
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IBNS): India's Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad on Friday said former Indian skipper MS Dhoni expressed his unavailability for the three T20 matches against South Africa and hence his name was not present in the Indian squad for the series announced on Thursday.
Prasad told India Today: "Yes he was unavailable for selection."
That clarification confirms what a member close to the Indian cricket legend had told India Today a day earlier that Dhoni, currently in the USA, would not be making himself available.
Dhoni has not played any international match since India's Semi-final exit in the World Cup.
New Zealand defeated India in the semis.
Dhoni had opted out of selection ahead of India's West Indies tour and served the Territorial Army for 15 days.
He had taken a two-month sabbatical from the sport.
The three-match series will be played in September.
The first T20 will be played in Dharmasala on September 15.
India’s squad for 3 T20Is: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini
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