Sarfaraz Khan's non-inclusion in the Indian team for the West Indies tour was criticised by former batting great Sunil Gavaskar, but BCCI sources claimed that his below-par "fitness level" as well as alleged "off-field conduct" has influenced the decision.
Shed weight or face the axe
The Mumbai batter scored 2566 runs in the last three Ranji seasons. He scored 928 runs in the 2019/20 season, 982 in the 2022–23 season, and 656 in the 2022–23 season) The 25-year-old has a very impressive career average of 79.65 after 37 red ball games, so it was very surprising that the former India U-19 World Cup winner had to make way for someone like Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose career average is 42 or more.
“The angry reactions are understandable, but I can tell you with some degree of certainty that the reason behind Sarfaraz getting ignored time and again is not just a cricketing one. There are multiple reasons for which he hasn’t been considered,” a BCCI official privy to selection developments told PTI on condition of anonymity.
"Are the selectors fools to not consider a player who has scored 900 plus runs in successive seasons? One of the reasons is his fitness which isn’t exactly of international standard. He has to work hard, maybe shed weight, and come back leaner and fitter, as it’s not just batting fitness that is the sole criteria for selection,” the source added.
Discipline on and off the field
BCCI official has commented that fitness is not the only factor for Sarfaraz's non-selection and elaborated:
"His conduct on and off the field hasn’t exactly been top notch. Certain things said, certain gestures made, and some incidents have been taken note of. A bit more disciplined approach would only do him a world of good. Hopefully, Sarfaraz, his father, and coach Naushad Khan will work on those aspects."
These aspects supposedly refer to the social media posts that Sarfaraz has posted on social media in direct or indirect jibes at the board in response to him being ignored for selection to the national side.
Social Media posts
In his latest jibe at the board after being ignored for the series against the West Indies, Sarfaraz posted a stats board highlighting his runs and average in first-class cricket.
Clash with Chetan Sharma
Reportedly, Sarfaraz's celebrations after his hundred against Delhi earlier this year during a Ranji game didn't go down well, as the erstwhile selection committee chairman Chetan Sharma was watching that game from the stands.
Sarfaraz revealed that he was told that he would get his opportunity against Bangladesh. "During the Ranji Trophy final at Bangalore, when I scored a century, I met the selectors.I was told that 'you'll get your opportunity in Bangladesh. Be ready for that. Recently, I met Chetan Sharma, sir (chief selector), while we were checking I at the hotel in Mumbai. He asked me not to feel disheartened, and that my time would come. Good things take time to happen. You're very close (to an India berth). You'll get your chance. So, when I played another important knock. I had expectations. But it's alright,” Sarfaraz revealed.
BCCI official denies IPL as selection criteria for Indian Test team:
When asked whether the IPL is the selection criteria for the Test team, the official denied it and claimed that it's the media's perception, citing examples of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari.
"That’s a perception built by the media. Do you think there could be any cricketing reason? When Mayank Agarwal broke into the Indian Test team, he scored 1000 first class runs in one month. Did MSK Prasad’s committee check his IPL credentials? Ditto for Hanuma Vihari, who came through the domestic and A team ranks. If their IPL and white ball records wasn’t checked then, why would SS Das’s committee reinvent the wheel now? Simple. The reason is not a cricketing one."
India will start the tour of the West Indies with the Test series, starting on July 12th in Dominica.
