Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname? Shama Mohamed questions selectors

Shama Mohamed

Shama Mohamed, Congress' national spokesperson, questioning the exclusion of cricketer Sarfaraz Khan from the national cricket team,
asked was his exclusion from the national squad based on religious grounds. "Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname?," tweeted Mohamed.

Sarfaraz last played for India during the home series against New Zealand and didn't get a chance to play during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

He wasn't selected for the England tour, despite undergoing a physical transformation and wasn't considered for the home series against the West Indies. Fans were left shocked when the Mumbai batter wasn't even part of the India A team for the series against South Africa A.

On Tuesday, Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) questioned why Sarfaraz was not even picked for India A team despite his consistent performances in domestic cricket.

Meanwhile, Mohsin Raza, former Minorities Welfare Minister, Uttar Pradesh, lashed out at critics, urging them not to politicise selection calls in Indian cricket.

"No need to politicise this. Playing with cricketers' future, these so-called Muslim leaders (dig at Congress and Owaisi). Shami plays, Siraj plays. This is unfair," he told India Today.

Chairman of the senior selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, cited injury concerns when not picking Sarfaraz Khan for the home series against the West Indies last month. The Mumbai batter had not played the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup due to a quad injury.