NEW DELHI: Congress nationwide spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Wednesday alleged spiritual bias by Indian males's cricket crew head coach Gautam Gambhir, questioning the non-selection of Sarfaraz Khan for nationwide crew duties.“Is Sarfaraz Khan not chosen due to his surname! #justasking. We all know the place Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter,” Shama Mohamed mentioned in a publish on X.Her remarks got here a day after the nationwide choice committee introduced the India A squad for 2 first-class matches in opposition to South Africa A. Sarfaraz, who turned 28 on Wednesday, was not included in both of the 2 squads led by Rishabh Pant.The choice to depart out Sarfaraz from the India A crew has once more raised questions in regards to the remedy of one in all home cricket's constant performers. A number of followers and observers have requested whether or not the Mumbai batter continues to be being thought-about for India's second-string aspect.Shama Mohamed's publish drew a robust response from BJP chief Shehzad Poonawalla. “This girl & her get together is sick. After calling Rohit Sharma fats — she and her get together wish to divide even our cricket crew on communal traces? Desh ka partition karke mann nahi bhara kya? In the identical crew MOHAMMAD SIRAJ AND KHALEEL AHMED will play! Cease dividing India on communal traces, caste traces,” Poonawalla mentioned on X.He added, “Preserve your soiled political communal agenda out of cricket Shama.”After years of toil in home cricket, Sarfaraz, 27, lastly received to make his debut in Checks underneath Rohit Sharma at residence in opposition to England in February final 12 months. Since then, he has made 371 runs in six Checks at a mean of 37.10, placing at a wholesome 74.94, with a century and three fifties in 11 innings and a finest rating of 150.Sarfaraz final performed for India within the residence collection in opposition to New Zealand in November 2024. He was not a part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the England tour, and the just lately concluded residence collection in opposition to the West Indies. His exclusion from the India A squad for the South Africa collection stunned many followers.
