Indian cricket team has left for the tour of West Indies where they will play 2 tests followed by 3 ODI games and 5 T20 matches. The selectors recently sat down to pick the team and the controversy wasn’t far off. Indian cricket selectors’ job isn’t an easy one and it held true after the test team was announced. One player who isn’t in the West Indies is none other than young Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan.
The story as it happened –
Sarfaraz Khan has been a consistent run scoring in the Indian domestic cricket circuit. The 25 year old averages close to 80 and has taken the Ranji Cricket system by storm in the red ball format. Despite these lofty run scoring achievements, the 25 year old right handed batter was ignored.
Sourav Ganguly calls out the selectors –
Former Indian captain and head of BCCI, Sourav Ganguly, has made his displeasure known with the selection committee. Ganguly (51), has seen Sarfaraz Khan up close during the TATA IPL 2023 season. Ganguly was the mentor for the Delhi Capitals side which finished at the bottom of the table.
Ganguly was heard saying to PTI “I think Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored tons of runs in Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy. I think that’s why he is in the squad. I feel for Sarfaraz Khan. At some point he should get an opportunity for the amount of runs that he has scored in past three years”
Ganguly makes his case for young Sarfaraz Khan –
One of the reasons given by the selectors over the snub for Sarfaraz Khan is his weaknes against genuine pace bowling. Sarfaraz, was seen having his issues against Mark Wood when Delhi played against Lucknow in the earlier part of the TATA IPL 2023 season.
Speaking on this, Ganguly said to PTI “If you don’t play him (Sarfaraz) against fast bowling, how do you know? If he had problems he wouldn’t have scored so many runs all around (India). I personally feel he has no problems against fast bowling and he should be given an opportunity.”
Dada speaks on Abhimanyu Eeswaran getting snubbed again –
28 year old Abhimanyu Eeswaran is another player who has been snubbed by the national selectors. The Bengal captain has been scoring runs in the domestic circuit and has time and again proved his mettle with the bat. Eeswaran was part of the Indian as a reserves for a few tours.
Speaking on the snub, Ganguly said “And same thing for Abhimanyu Easwaran for the tons of runs he has scored in last five to six years. I am surprised that both of them have been omitted but they should get a chance in the future. But Yashasvi Jaiswal is a good selection.”