Fatigue not a valid reason for India exit: Waugh

New Delhi:

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh feels even though India might have been affected by last month's Indian Premier League, it is not a valid reason behind Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men's early ouster from the World Twenty20 in England.

Waugh also disagreed with Coach Gary Kirsten on fatigue being a reason behind India's debacle in the World T20.

"Everyone played the IPL, I think India were more affected by it but you need to appreciate Gary for his honesty, he said what he felt," Waugh said on the sidelines of a meeting with BCCI Media and Financial Committee Chairman Rajiv Shukla.

"But it is not a valid excuse in my mind because every one is a professional player and may be India failed to lift themselves up for the World cup. So I don't think fatigue is an issue.

"It is the nature of Twenty20. It's unpredictable, it's a game of couple of hours and if you are not on the game and sharp enough and make little mistakes ... and India bowled a few wides, Harbhajan bowled well but there were some uncharacteristic deliveries in the last overs and Yuvraj also made a fielding mistake.

"So you look back and find these are the things which makes the difference between winning and losing. They needed to do these little things right all the time," he added.

Waugh also backed Dhoni and said the Indian skipper didn't make too many mistakes.

"I would stick with Dhoni as a captain. When you win you are fantastic and when you loss you are hopeless. But the realisty is it is somewhere in between. He can't go out there and take all the catches. All captains have a role and don't think there is too much wrong in there," said the 44-year-old cricketer.

Asked if he would like to step into Kirsten's shoes if India looks for a new coach after six months, Waugh said he would like to see the South African stay a little longer.

"It is the toughest job in the world and Gary is doing a good job and I would like to see Gary last a little longer. You need stability in a coach, you shouldn't be just chopping and changing, So I think India should stick to Gary Kirsten," he said.

With the World Cup moving into the semifinal stage, Waugh felt South Africa has the maximum chance of winning the title.

"If I have to pick one, I feel it has to be South Africa," he said.

Waugh also lashed out at temperamental all-rounder Andrew Symonds and termed him as a shame on Australian cricket.

"Symonds has been a shame on Australian cricket. He is a good cricketer and has been a match-winner for us but he has some issues, which needs to be sorted out. I think he has his best mate Matthew Hayden helping him out, so that he can feel good about himself and get things right," he said.

Waugh was in the capital for launching his global charity programme in the country and had a series of meetings with Sport Minister MS Gill and Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Asked about what brings him to India, Waugh said, "I am here to launch my global charity programme. I have done a few work as a part of the charity establishment in Australia but I wanted to formalise that and take it to the next level.

"It would be focusing on the areas of rare diseases of children in India," he added.