Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on the growing debate around Sarfaraz KhanCaution has been urged against making cricket selection a political or communal issue after being left out of the India A team for the upcoming first-class matches against South Africa A. Sarfaraz, who turned 28 on Wednesday, was not included in either of the two Rishabh Pant-led teams, despite an impressive domestic record including a first-class average of over 100 in the last five years.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!His omission has reignited discussions among fans and observers whether the Mumbai batsman remains a contender for India's second-string team.“The selectors and the coaches (management) will always have a plan. Sometimes it may look wrong in the eyes of fans, but please do not twist things or create narratives that are not even close to the truth,” Pathan wrote on X in response to the ongoing discussion and debate on the internet.
Irfan Pathan on X
Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohammed fueled the debate on social media by alleging religious bias in not being selected and questioning the stance of head coach Gautam Gambhir. “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #JustAsking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on this issue,” he wrote on X. The remarks were sharply criticized by BJP leader Shehzad Poonawala, who described the comments as divisive. “Stop dividing India on communal lines, on caste lines. Keep your dirty political communal agenda away from cricket Shama,” he said, noting that other Muslim players, Mohammed Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed remain part of the team. Reacting to the contradictory opinions, Pathan stressed the need to focus on the game rather than letting social media and political narratives create unnecessary tension. He highlighted how quickly absurd conclusions are being drawn without context, urging fans and leaders to respect the selection process. Pathan's comments come at a time when Sarfaraz's international appearances have been sporadic. After making his Test debut under Rohit Sharma against England in February last year, he has scored 371 runs in six Test matches at an average of 37.10, including one century and three fifties. His last innings for India was in the home series against New Zealand in November 2024, and since then he has been left out of major tours including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the England tour and the home series against the West Indies.
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The debate over Sarfaraz's exclusion from the India A team was also interpreted as 'doors being closed' for him, as emphasized by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
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