Cricket Selection Controversy: Sarfaraz Khan's Exclusion Sparks Political Tensions

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed stirred debate by questioning if Sarfaraz Khan was excluded from the India A squad due to his surname. Her remarks, seemingly targeting coach Gautam Gambhir, drew criticism from BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla. The selection committee overlooked Khan despite his recent domestic cricket success, igniting social media uproar.

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed ignited a controversy by questioning if Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan was excluded from the India A cricket squad due to his surname.

Her remarks seemed to target Indian team's coach Gautam Gambhir, suggesting a communal bias. This prompted a strong response from BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who accused her of injecting political agendas into sports.

The national selection committee's omission of Khan from the squad against South Africa A, despite his impressive domestic performance and recent weight loss, triggered social media backlash with individuals questioning the criteria for his non-selection.

(With inputs from agencies.)