Former national selectors MSK Prasad and Saba Karim have expressed their disappointment over Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from the Indian Test team for the West Indies tour. In a surprising move, the selectors decided to overlook Sarfaraz Khan despite his exceptional performance in the Ranji Trophy. The decision has left both Prasad and Karim questioning the selectors’ thought process and calling it a “shocking” and “perplexing” choice.
Saba Karim: “A Knock on the Door”
Saba Karim, in an interview with The Indian Express, expressed his surprise and dismay at the selectors’ decision. He stated, “I am very surprised. I am perplexed with the thought process of the Indian selectors right now. The guy has literally knocked the door down. What else do you want from him?”
Karim also questioned the selection of Ajinkya Rahane as vice-captain, suggesting a contradictory approach by the selectors. He remarked, “You have picked Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad because you are looking to make that transition, while on the other hand, you have made Ajinkya Rahane the vice-captain. It is like taking one step forward and then two steps backwards.”
MSK Prasad’s Disappointment and Encouragement
Former chief selector MSK Prasad also expressed his disappointment regarding the omission of Sarfaraz Khan. However, he advised the young Mumbai batter to take inspiration from Cheteshwar Pujara’s journey. Prasad emphasized the importance of continuing to perform and control the controllables.
Prasad said, “I feel this is not the time for Sarfaraz Khan to get frustrated. The only thing that is in his hands is to keep performing. The Duleep Trophy starts on Wednesday, and it is another chance for him to score runs. Look, he can only control the controllables.”
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He further reminded Sarfaraz Khan of the struggles faced by renowned cricketers like Mohinder Amarnath and VVS Laxman, who were dropped but made remarkable comebacks. Prasad pointed out Pujara’s example, where the batsman was initially dropped but worked hard, scored runs in county cricket, and earned a Test recall. Prasad urged Sarfaraz not to lose hope and maintain his focus on scoring runs.
Stellar Performances by Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from the Test squad is met with widespread criticism, including from legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. With an average of 79.65 in first-class cricket, Sarfaraz has been in phenomenal form, accumulating 2566 runs in the last three Ranji seasons. He amassed 928 runs in the 2019/20 season, followed by 982 and 656 runs in the subsequent two seasons, respectively. The talented 25-year-old has an impressive record of 13 centuries in 37 first-class matches, showcasing his potential and hunger for success.
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The Backlash and Recognition
Sunil Gavaskar, known for his straight talk, lashed out at the national selectors for disregarding Sarfaraz’s consistent performances. Gavaskar emphasized Sarfaraz’s outstanding average of 100 in the past three seasons and expressed his frustration with the selectors’ decision. He suggested that even if Sarfaraz is not part of the playing XI, his inclusion in the team would acknowledge his talent and efforts. Gavaskar further advised Sarfaraz Khan to reconsider playing in the Ranji Trophy if his performances are not recognized, urging him to focus solely on the Indian Premier League (IPL) instead.
Conclusion
The omission of Sarfaraz Khan from the Indian Test squad for the West Indies tour has sparked controversy and raised questions about the selectors’ decision-making process. Both Saba Karim and MSK Prasad, former national selectors, criticized the exclusion and expressed their surprise at the selectors’ thought process. However, they also encouraged Sarfaraz to remain focused, take inspiration from renowned players’ comeback stories, and continue performing in domestic cricket. Sarfaraz’s consistent run-scoring and impressive statistics make his non-inclusion all the more perplexing. The cricketing fraternity eagerly awaits a justifiable explanation from the selectors for this surprising decision.
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