A lot of cricket fans are upset and talking about Sarfaraz Khan not being picked for the India A team for the forthcoming home series against South Africa A. The Mumbai batter did not make the BCCI’s Tuesday announcement of the squad, even though he had amazing figures in first-class cricket and become a lot fitter.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet given an official reason for why he was left out.
A Reliable Performer with Great Stats
Sarfaraz has been one of the most reliable players in India’s domestic circuit over the past five years. He has scored 2,467 runs at an average of 117.47, including 10 centuries in first-class cricket.
He even did well in his first Test match for India last year, scoring 50 in both innings. But since then, he has been passed over for both national and A-team selections time and time again.
From Criticism of Fitness to Change
Sarfaraz faced criticism for his fitness and handled it head-on. He lost 17 kg over the summer and then had good showings in the Buchi Babu pre-season competition, scoring 138 and 109.
Even though he worked hard and did well, the selectors decided not to pick him for the South Africa A series.
Past Choices and Current Issues
Sarfaraz was on the India A team that toured England earlier this year. He did well in one of the innings, scoring 92 runs. The Indian Express says that he was included at that time mainly because “his absence might raise uncomfortable questions since he was a contracted player.”
This time, same doubts have come up again, as fans took to social media to criticize the selection committee for not including one of the best players in domestic cricket.
Injury, clearance, and a lack of openness
The Indian Express story also said that Sarfaraz had been promised a chance to play in the home Test series, but an injury he got during the Buchi Babu event kept him from playing in the West Indies Tests earlier this month.
On September 25, the team for that series was announced. Sarfaraz passed his fitness test barely two days later, which made him ineligible for selection because of time.
It’s interesting that Sarfaraz’s name wasn’t mentioned with an asterisk (subject to fitness) in that announcement, which just adds to the doubt about his situation.
Uncertainty about Future Prospects and Selection
The ongoing story of Sarfaraz Khan has shown that there isn’t enough communication and clarity between players and selectors. Reports say that if Sarfaraz bats further up the order, maybe at No. 4 for Mumbai, it could help his chances of getting called up to play for India in the future.
But until that happens, his absence, despite having shown consistent improvement in fitness, is still one of the major topics of conversation in Indian cricket circles.