The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come under heavy criticism after leaving out Sarfaraz Khan and veteran pacer Mohammad Shami from the India A squad announced for the upcoming red-ball series against South Africa A.
The BCCI on Wednesday named wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as captain and Sai Sudharsan as vice-captain for the series. Pant’s return to leadership duties after his long injury layoff was widely celebrated by fans — but the omission of Sarfaraz and Shami sparked outrage across social media.
Many fans accused the selection committee of favoritism and political influence, claiming the decision disregards consistent performers. Critics argued that Sarfaraz, who has been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, and Shami, one of India’s most experienced bowlers, deserved places in the squad.
“BCCI should be ashamed of ignoring players like Sarfaraz Khan and Mohammad Shami despite their strong performances,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Others claimed that “bias and BJP influence” were affecting team selections.
The criticism extended beyond cricket fans. Congress leader Dr. Shama Mohammed questioned on social media whether Sarfaraz had been dropped “because of his name,” implying communal bias in selection.
Senior sports journalist Vikrant Gupta also expressed concern, saying the BCCI’s selection process “appears inconsistent and opaque,” calling for greater transparency in evaluating players for the national setup.
The controversy has reignited debate within Indian cricket circles about fairness, regional favoritism, and political interference in team selections — issues that have long shadowed the country’s cricketing establishment.
BCCI faces backlash for dropping Sarfaraz Khan, Mohammad Shami from India A squad
LAHORE, October 23, (Internews):
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come under heavy criticism after leaving out Sarfaraz Khan and veteran pacer Mohammad Shami from the India A squad announced for the upcoming red-ball series against South Africa A.
The BCCI on Wednesday named wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as captain and Sai Sudharsan as vice-captain for the series. Pant’s return to leadership duties after his long injury layoff was widely celebrated by fans — but the omission of Sarfaraz and Shami sparked outrage across social media.
Many fans accused the selection committee of favoritism and political influence, claiming the decision disregards consistent performers. Critics argued that Sarfaraz, who has been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, and Shami, one of India’s most experienced bowlers, deserved places in the squad.
“BCCI should be ashamed of ignoring players like Sarfaraz Khan and Mohammad Shami despite their strong performances,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Others claimed that “bias and BJP influence” were affecting team selections.
The criticism extended beyond cricket fans. Congress leader Dr. Shama Mohammed questioned on social media whether Sarfaraz had been dropped “because of his name,” implying communal bias in selection.
Senior sports journalist Vikrant Gupta also expressed concern, saying the BCCI’s selection process “appears inconsistent and opaque,” calling for greater transparency in evaluating players for the national setup.
The controversy has reignited debate within Indian cricket circles about fairness, regional favoritism, and political interference in team selections — issues that have long shadowed the country’s cricketing establishment.
