Sarfaraz has been ignored for the upcoming four-day matches against South Africa A at home.
Sarfaraz Khan's omission from India A's squad for the upcoming four-day matches against South Africa A at home has sparked a widespread debate.
Despite averaging a staggering 110.47 in first-class cricket over the last five years, with ten hundreds and five fifties, Sarfaraz's name was glaringly absent when the selectors unveiled the squad on Tuesday (October 21).
The Mumbai batter, who has 4,759 first-class runs to his name at an average of 65.19 in 56 matches, has represented India in six Tests so far, scoring 371 runs with the help of one century and three half-centuries. He was not considered for the recently held home Test series against the West Indies.
Just like fans and experts, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was also left baffled by Sarfaraz’s India A snub.
"I can't find any logic behind Sarfaraz's non-selection in the India A side. I feel very, very sad for him. If I were a selector, what would I call and tell Sarfaraz? He has reduced weight, he has scored runs too, he even hit a century against New Zealand,” Ashwin said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
However, ex-India all-rounder Irfan Pathan reckons that the selectors have a plan. "Selectors and the coach (management) will always have a plan. Sometimes it might look wrong in the fans' eyes, but please don't twist things or create narratives that aren't even close to the truth," Pathan wrote on X.
Sarfaraz’s non-selection took a political turn when Congress leader Dr. Shama Mohamed claimed that the 28-year-old was ignored because of his faith. She also threw a jibe at the Indian team's coach Gautam Gambhir, saying "we know" where he stands on the matter.
"Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname? #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter," Shama tweeted.
This allegation from the Congress leader triggered a heated debate across social media, prompting responses from BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla and several former players.
"This lady & her party are sick. After calling Rohit Sharma fat - she and her party want to divide even our cricket team on communal lines? Desh ka partition karke mann nahi bhara kya? (Are they not satisfied even after partitioning the country?) In the same team, Mohammad Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed will play! Stop dividing India on communal lines, caste lines," Poonawalla said.