Paceman Shantha Sreesanth has admitted to being "heartbroken" after being omitted from the India squad for next month's World Cup.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee chairman Kris Srikkanth earlier today announced the 15-man India squad in Chennai after holding a meeting with the remaining four selectors.
Munaf Patel, who guided India to a sensational one-run victory against South Africa in the second one-day international at the weekend by claiming four wickets, filled in the fourth seamer's spot in the squad, ahead of Sreesanth.
The Kerala-born 27-year-old bowler did not play the first two games of the ongoing five-match series after he picked up a mild tennis elbow in his bowling arm during the one-off Twenty20 game in South Africa on January 9.
Sreesanth was expected to return to action for the remaining three matches of the series, which is now level at 1-1, and the World Cup omission has come as a big jolt for the paceman.
"I am so heart broken," Sreesanth tweeted after the names were read out by the selection committee chairman.
"But it's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself," the bowler continued.
Sreesanth, who earlier played a key role in the series levelling 87-run victory over the Proteas in the Boxing Day Test at Durban by picking up three wickets in the second innings, was recently bought by his home Indian Premier League franchise - Kochi - for 900,000 US dollars for the fourth edition of the tournament.
India have named Sachin Tendulkar in their 15-man World Cup squad, despite concerns over the opener's fitness.
Tendulkar strained his right hamstring in Saturday's one-day international victory over South Africa and was forced to fly home early.
The 37-year-old is the world's top run scorer in ODIs with 17,629 runs, including 46 hundreds and 93 fifties.
Sreesanth, who has represented India in 51 ODIs and 24 Tests, has also been hit by disciplinary issues over the last five years and was docked 10% of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the fourth day's play in the final Test against South Africa.
Sreesanth, a firm believer in God, has vowed to overcome the current setback with divine help.
"I will keep giving my very best to the game no matter how small my chances are..I truly believe in God," the mercurial paceman tweeted once more.
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