Sarfaraz Khan's exclusion from the Indian team has been associated with concerns regarding his fitness and discipline. However, sources within the Mumbai cricket community have strongly denied these allegations.
Within the BCCI circles, there is said to be a belief that Sarfaraz should focus on improving his fitness levels and display more discipline both on and off the field. Nevertheless, individuals affiliated with Mumbai cricket have come to the defense of the talented middle-order batter.
One incident that drew criticism was Sarfaraz's gesture of pointing towards the dressing room after scoring a crucial hundred against Delhi in the previous season. This action was interpreted as a veiled jab at one of the selectors who was present at the match.
"Sarfaraz's celebration during a Ranji match in Delhi was meant for his teammates and coach Amol Mujumdar, who had doffed his hat. The selector present was Salil Ankola and not Chetan Sharma. Sarfaraz took the team out of pressure situation and the celebration was one of relief," a source close to cricketer told PTI on Monday.
"Is it even wrong to be exalted in your celebration and that too when you are pointing towards your own dressing room," the source said.
Additionally, there was an incident in which it was claimed that MP coach Chandrakant Pandit was dissatisfied with Sarfaraz Khan's attitude. However, a source countered this assertion by stating that Pandit has consistently shown affection towards Sarfaraz.
"Chandu sir treats him like a son. He has always had good things to say about him and knows him since he was 14 years old. He would never be angry on Sarfaraz," the source said.
(AI image)
Sarfaraz's close associates are curious about the reasons behind his exclusion from the Indian team, especially considering his impressive batting performances. Despite consistently scoring heavily, he has been overlooked.
It is worth noting that Sarfaraz has met the fitness criteria set by the current Indian team, which stands at 16.5. Moreover, in terms of cricketing fitness, he has demonstrated exceptional endurance by batting for extended periods of up to two days and actively fielding for another two days.
(With PTI inputs)
