Yusuf questions Irfan's exclusion

Yusuf Pathan, the India allrounder, has said his brother Irfan has been left out of the 30-man Champions Trophy pool for non-cricketing reasons.

"Irfan's performance was always up to the mark. He has not been left out because of his performance," he said on Tuesday. "Everybody has seen what is happening. What will I comment. It is for you (the media) to react and comment on what is happening."

Irfan's last one-day appearances for India were in the series in Sri Lanka, where he took four wickets but leaked 7.06 runs an over in two matches. What has also hurt his chances of making the national side is that his batting has fallen away in ODIs - he hasn't scored a half-century in nearly three years.

He was also part of three games during India's dismal World Twenty20 campaign, but picked up only one wicket and didn't contribute much with the bat either. He hasn't been a part of the Test side since the home series against South Africa in April 2008.

Both the BCCI and chief selector Kris Srikkanth declined to comment on Yusuf's statements.