‘If you don’t value first-class runs…’ Ex-India player lashes out at BCCI after Sarfaraz snub

Cheteshwar Pujara was snubbed from the Test squad as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad came into the team. Though there is nothing against the selection of Jaiswal, ex-cricketers questioned the exclusion of Sarfaraz Khan from the squad.

Sarfaraz Khan has scored a pile of runs for Mumbai in the domestic seasons. He scored 982 runs in 2021-22 Ranji season and backed it up with another spectacular season in 2022-23, where he scored 556 runs in just six matches.

But despite all the runs, the batter was yet again overlooked by the selectors. The 25-year-old has been scoring consistently and his snub came as a shock to many. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra lashed onto BCCI selectors and criticised the board for lack of clarity on Sarfaraz’s situation.

He asked the board to make their reasons public on why the Mumbai-born was not selected for the team, and alleged the lack of value for first-class runs as yardstick for national team selection.

“What should Sarfaraz do? If you look at his numbers in the past 3 years, he’s head and shoulders above the rest. He’s scored everywhere. Even then, if he’s not selected… what message does it send?” a frustrated Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“This is a question worth asking. If there’s some other reason, something which you and I don’t know, make it public. Just say it that you didn’t like that particular thing about Sarfaraz, and that’s why you’re not considering him,” he added.

“But we don’t know if there’s something like that. I don’t know if someone told Sarfaraz about that. If you don’t value first-class runs, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth,” the former India opener concluded.

Along with Sarfaraz, another prolific runscorer, Abhimanyu Easwaran was also not picked for the team. The 27-year-old Bengal batter scored 798 runs in the Ranji trophy this season.