Sourav Ganguly Backed Sarfaraz Khan: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), earlier this month, announced Team India’s Test and ODI squads for the upcoming tour of the West Indies. While senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara’s snub from the Test squad remained the major talking point from the squad announcement, however, the non-inclusion of domestic superstar Sarfaraz Khan also created a lot of buzz in the cricketing fraternity.
Several experts and former cricketers questioned the BCCI selectors for ignoring Sarfaraz Khan yet again despite brilliant performances in the domestic circuit. Sarfaraz has played 37 matches in first-class cricket and has scored 3505 runs at an average of 79.65 with 13 centuries and nine half-centuries. His top score of 301 not out came against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2020 match at the Wankhede Stadium.
Sourav Ganguly Slammed BCCI For Ignoring Sarfaraz Khan
The latest one to question the non-inclusion of Sarfaraz in the Team is former Indian captain and ex-BCCI President Sourav Ganguly. While Ganguly praised the selection of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Indian Test team, but he questioned BCCI for ignoring Sarfaraz. Speaking to the PTI, Ganguly said:
“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 also named Abhimanyu Easwaran, as one of the deserving candidates who should have been considered in the Test squad. In eight matches in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, Easwaran scored 798 runs at an average of 66.50, smashing three centuries and as many fifties.
“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.”
Further, the former BCCI President has seen Sarfaraz from close quarters during his time as the Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals. He is disappointed with the perception that he can’t play fast bowling. Backing Sarfaraz, Ganguly said:
“If you don’t play him (Sarfaraz) against fast bowling, how do you know?” he countered.
“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.”
