Ex-Selector Terms 'Fitness' And 'Off-Field Conduct' As 'Flimsy Grounds' As BCCI Overlooks Sarfaraz Khan For WI Tour

The Mumbai-based batter amassed 3505 runs in 37 first-class matches with a terrific average of 79.65 and has collected 13 hundred.

Sarfaraz Khan in action. ( Image Source :Getty )

Ever since the BCCI announced the squads for the upcoming West Indies series, the Indian selectors have been facing backlash for ignoring Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan, who has been scoring tons of runs in the domestic circuit. A report by PTI disclosed that Sarfaraz below average fitness level and off-field conduct are the reasons why selectors overlooked him. The former India selector Saba Karim reckons that this is a flimsy reason.

"having interacted with Sarfaraz at all, I don't think there is an issue at all. If that is the issue, how come he has been playing regularly for Mumbai? (We have) not heard anything from the Mumbai coach or the captain or the management," Karim told Sportskeeda.

"I don't believe in all that. I think that's the work of the management and the coach to handle such cricketers if there is any issue like that... I think these are very flimsy grounds for non-selection," Karim added. 

The Mumbai-based batter amassed 3505 runs in 37 first-class matches with a terrific average of 79.65 and has collected 13 hundred. His best knock is 301 not out in domestic games. Talking about the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season, Sarfaraz made 556 runs with an extraordinary average of 92.66. He also smashed three centuries in 6 matches. The right-hand batter was the top run-getter in the year 2022 where he collected 982 runs with an average of 122.75 in six Test matches. He had four hundred under his name too.

During 2019-2020, Khan was one of the top five run-makers in the Ranji Trophy as he scored 928 runs with an average of 154.66 in six games. He hammered three centuries with the career-best knock of 301 not out in first-class cricket. The BCCI rather opted for players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Yashasvi Jaiswal as they selected the team on the basis of IPL performance.