Australia captain Michael Clarke has acknowledged his role in the axing of predecessor and mentor Ricky Ponting from the one-day team.
After a poor return so far in the triangular one-day international series, Ponting was dropped from the team ahead of Friday's match against Sri Lanka in Hobart.
Under the structural reforms recommended by the Argus review, Clarke - as captain - is now a member of the five-man national selection panel.
As a consequence, the 30-year-old is directly responsible for forcing out his friend and senior colleague.
Speaking to the media in Hobart on Thursday, Clarke said he had no issue putting Australia's long-term interests ahead of personal sentiment.
"I'm 100 percent part of the selection panel - that's part now of the captain's job, I guess, and we've made this decision as a panel," Clarke said.
"It is tough not having the great Ricky Ponting out there this game playing one-day cricket for us but that's the decision we've made."
"Obviously 2015, the World Cup, is something we've spoken about as a panel and I'm 100 percent a part of that."
Clarke said although Ponting had not been an official member of the selection panel during his time as captain, he had still been the man charged with the responsibility of informing players of their demotion.
"Ricky was captain of the team for a long time and, although he wasn't a selector, he still played a big part in selecting the 11 players that took the field," Clarke said.
"I remember getting dropped after the Test match in the West Indies and Punter was the one that came and told me that I hadn't been selected."
"So he knows it's certainly not personal."
"I'm very confident that our friendship is a lot stronger than that."
Soon after his axing, Ponting conceded he may never play ODIs again, but Clarke believes the veteran retains a slim chance of representing Australia in 50-over cricket.
"I think the one thing is the door's never closed on anybody," he said.
"Who knows what can happen in this very weird and tough game that we play?"