Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his disappointment over Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from the India A team for the upcoming red-ball series against South Africa A.
Despite Sarfaraz’s impressive domestic and Test record, he was not selected in the 15-member squad announced by the BCCI on October 21. The decision has drawn heavy criticism.
Ashwin has now voiced his opinion, suggesting that the move might indicate that Sarfaraz’s path back to the national team could be over.
“If I were Sarfaraz Khan, that is what I would be thinking,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “He has been dropped from the India A side. It’s literally like the door has been shut.”
Sarfaraz had a strong start to his Test career. The Mumbai-based batter scored twin fifties on debut and later smashed a fighting century against New Zealand in Bengaluru. He was part of the squad in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but did not get to play a single match.
Ashwin said that a lack of communication is the main issue with the selectors. He illustrated his point by citing examples of players such as Subramaniam Badrinath and Manoj Tiwary, who were also dropped without being given any proper explanation.
“The problem is that your communication and selection should match,” he added.
Speaking about Sarfaraz’s fitness and dedication, Ashwin said: “I am very sad and feel sorry for him. Had I been the selector, what would I have called him up and said? He has reduced his weight, and he has been scoring runs; he even scored a century in his last Test series. And this sort of non-selection leads me to think that someone must have been thinking that they have seen enough of him, they no longer want him, and they do not want to go in that direction.”
Ashwin concluded by saying: “Such non-selection feels like a decision made by someone, either from the management or the selection committee, that he is no longer being considered.”
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