Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh has slammed the BCCI selectors for not selecting prolific domestic cricket scorers Mandeep Singh and Sheldon Jackson in India A squad that was named today, November 9, 2021, for the South Africa tour.
Priyank Panchal has been named the captain of the 14-member squad, which also includes Prithvi Shaw, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Baba Aparajith. It also features the likes of K Gowtham, Rahul Chahar, Navdeep Saini, and IPL sensation Umran Malik.
The India ‘A’ team will play three four-day matches during the South Africa tour, which will get underway on November 23 in Bloemfontein.
BCCI names India ‘A’ squad for upcoming South Africa tour, Prithvi Shaw features in the side
However, Harbhajan Singh was not happy with selectors ignoring his statemate Mandeep Singh and Sheldon Jackson and took to Twitter to state his case for the inclusion of these players and even called it shocking.
35-year-old Sheldon Jackson boasts of an excellent domestic record with 5634 runs in 76 FC matches with 19 centuries and 27 fifties at an average of 49.42 and a highest score of 186.
“Ranji season 2018/19 scored 854 and 2019/2020 scored 809 and also Ranji champion that year plus this year current form????yet not getting picked even for India A team.can ????????selector tell him what else he need to do to ply for india apart from scoring runs #shame @ShelJackson27,” Harbhajan Singh posted on Twitter.
The 29-year-old Mandeep Singh has been part of the India A teams in the past and has played 3 T20Is for India in 2016. In 78 FC matches, Mandeep has 5316 runs at an average of 47.46. His highest score has been 235 and he has hit 13 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
“Another top player not getting his dues @mandeeps12 forget team India not even in India A.selectors need to see some domestic matches records or else what’s th point having Ranji seasons.check his stats ????last domestic season played.due to corona no cricket in 20/21 #shocking,” Harbhajan tweeted.
