BCCI unsure about Sarfaraz Khan

The BCCI has finally mentioned their reason to exclude Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan from the India A squad for the upcoming first-class series against South Africa A. The BCCI has considered Sarfaraz's long absence from first-class cricket as a central reason for the omission.

Mumbai Ranji batter Sarfaraz Khan is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent bowlers among youngsters in the longest format of the game. As Sarfaraz Khan makes his much-awaited return to domestic cricket with the Ranji Trophy, he faces a heartbreak in the form of an India A snub.

Sarfaraz has played 6 games for India in the longest format of the game, and has scored 300+ runs, averaging nearly 40. He also scored his maiden Test half-century against England and then his maiden century against New Zealand.

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BCCI's reasons behind Sarfaraz Khan's snub from the India A squad

Domestic Cricketer Sarfaraz Khan, who has been an absolute star in the red-ball format and has promising numbers representing India A, was snubbed from the tour against South Africa A starting from the 30th of October.

After injury had forced him out of the game, he returned earlier this month and scored a half-century for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. Upon his return, he also scored a stunning hundred in the Invitational Buchi Babu Tournament.

However, for BCCI and the Indian selectors, it didn't seem enough proof for them to consider him for the India A squad. The BCCI selectors have been accused of being biased towards the young and promising Mumbai batter; however, they said that his snub was owing to his absence from competitive cricket and not due to a lack of potential.

"Sarfaraz was out with a quadriceps injury. He recently made a comeback and played the first round of the Ranji Trophy is the only competitive cricket he has played in a long time. The selectors will assess his form in the ongoing Ranji season before drafting him back into the India A set-up," the source told NDTV. "Hopefully, he will get his chances soon," the official added.

Did Rishabh Pant's return for India A snub Sarfaraz of a fair spot in the XI?

The India A squad marks the return of Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, who is making his much-awaited return to the longest format of the game, after having gained a fitness certificate following his recovery from the fracture injury back at Old Trafford.

For now, the BCCI source was clear to mention that Sarfaraz Khan, the man who has averaged nearly 100 over the past few years in first-class cricket, remains sidelined, and it might be a matter of time before he is back in the whites for the Men in Blue.

Several PTI reports have further claimed that Rishabh Pant's return to the India A red-ball setup snubbed Sarfaraz Khan of his spot in the XI, as only in Khan's absence can Pant be sent in at no. 5 for the India A team.

Can Sarfaraz Khan eye the No. 3 spot in the Indian Test team?

Currently, the Indian Men's senior Test team has only one spot left for contention; that is the no. 3 batsmen in the Test side. Previously, Virat Kohli played for India at no. 4 and Shubman Gill played at no. 3 ever since Cheteshwar Pujara was snubbed of the spot.

However, with Kohli's retirement and Shubman Gill's arrival to the longest format as skipper, the batting order saw a huge change, and Sai Sudharsan emerged in contention for the third spot, alongside Karun Nair and Devdutt Padikkal, and now Sarfaraz Khan can also eye the spot to make a Test comeback.

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