The chatter around the exclusion of Sarfaraz Khan from India’s Test squad over the past year has taken fire with a BCCI source claiming that Sarfaraz Khan has disciplinary issues and hence he’s been excluded from the upcoming Test series in West Indies.
As India move into the transition phase, the selectors dropped Cheteshwar Pujara and gave maiden Test call-ups to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
While Sarfaraz Khan averages a whopping 79 in first-class cricket – which is the second highest FC average in the world after only Sir Don Bradman’s, for batters to have a minimum of 2000 FC runs – Yashasvi Jaiswal averages 80 but Ruturaj Gaikwad has a much lower average of 42. This has irked the fans that Gaikwad with a much lower average compared to Sarfaraz has been included.
PTI recently quoted a BCCI source saying that during one of Khan’s century celebrations, he pointed at the dressing room. This made the selector unhappy and was perceived as a taunt at one of the selectors watching the match.
“His conduct on and off the field hasn’t exactly been top notch. Certain things said, certain gestures made, and some incidents have been taken note of. A bit more disciplined approach would only do him a world of good. Hopefully, Sarfaraz, his father, and coach Naushad Khan will work on those aspects,” a BCCI official told PTI.
This statement from the board was lashed out at by the fans, who also dug up the video of Sarfaraz Khan’s celebration.
Here watch:
What was wrong in this celebration#SarfarazKhanpic.twitter.com/ekRzBoZ57s
— KL Siku Kumar (@KL_Siku_Kumar) June 25, 2023
Now, someone close to the cricketer himself has stated that celebration was more in relief and wasn’t offensive or arrogant toward anyone.
“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 and not Chetan Sharma. Sarfaraz took the team out of pressure situation and the celebration was one of relief,” a sources close to cricketer told PTI on Monday.
“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.
