Sarfaraz Khan's omission from the Indian team has been linked to fitness and disciplinary issues, but sources in Mumbai cricket insisted that there was no truth in the claims. While it is perceived in the BCCI circle that Sarfaraz needs to work on his fitness and also be a bit more disciplined both on and off the field, people associated with Mumbai cricket defended the middle-order batter.
Celebration was one of relief
According to a BCCI source, Sarfaraz's gesture of pointing a finger towards the dressing room after scoring a crucial hundred against Delhi in the previous season was not appreciated. It was perceived as a dig at one of the selectors watching the match.
A source close to the cricketer, however, has now revealed, "Sarfaraz's celebration during a Ranji match in Delhi was meant for his teammates and coach Amol Mujumdar, who had doffed his hat. The selector present was Salil Ankola, not Chetan Sharma. Sarfaraz took the team out of a pressure situation, and the celebration was one of relief."
"Is it even wrong to be exalted in your celebration, and that too when you are pointing towards your own dressing room," the source said.
Reported fallout with coach
There was also an incident where MP coach Chandrakant Pandit apparently was not happy with his attitude, but the source said that Pandit has always been affectionate towards him.
Chandu, sir, treats him like a son. He has always had good things to say about him and has known him since he was 14 years old. He would never be angry with Sarfaraz," the source said.
People close to Sarfaraz do want to know why he has been ignored in the Indian team despite scoring heavily.
The current Indian team has fitness criteria of 16.5, and he has cleared them as far as cricketing fitness goes, he has at times batted for two days and fielded for another two days.
