I did not get any invite from ministry: Shastri

Former India cricket captain Rav Shastri rejected criticism for not attending the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards committee meeting, saying that he was never informed by the Sports Ministry about it.

Shastri was part of the 15-member Committee, which announced the awards after a meeting in New Delhi on Saturday.

"In this age of connectivity, how come I didn't receive a single call on my cell or an SMS, an email or a simple invite," said a remorseful Shastri while reacting to a report that the Sports Ministry was miffed that he did not attend the committee meeting.

The sources in the sports ministry were quoted as saying in newspapers that repeated attempts to reach Shastri in the last few days had borne no result.

"It's an honour to be picked on the committee but there's no point in hearing it form the media," added Shastri, rueing the missed opportunity of attending the meeting.

"In this day and age of connectivity, I am surprised a person can't be reached," concluded Shastri.

Newspaper reports suggested that ministry had conceded it had operated under severe time constraint.

Of the 10 eminent sportspersons nominated to the panel, everyone but for Baichung Bhutia and Ravi Shastri, had attended the meeting last Saturday.