Omission stirs controversy as BCCI announces India A squad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the India A squads for two four-day matches against South Africa A, scheduled to begin on October 30. While the return of Rishabh Pant as captain made headlines, it was the omission of middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan that quickly overshadowed the rest of the announcement.
Sarfaraz, a consistent performer in domestic cricket, had been expected to feature in the squad after delivering standout performances both in India and abroad. He scored 92 in an unofficial Test against the England Lions in Canterbury earlier this year, alongside hundreds in the Buchi Babu tournament, including knocks of 138 and 111 under pressure. His recent Ranji seasons only add to his credentials, with averages of 122.75, 92.66, and 50.00 across the last three campaigns.
Despite this, his name was missing once again. Meanwhile, the BCCI squad featured a blend of experienced and young names including KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, and Ayush Mhatre. Mohammed Shami and Sarfaraz, however, were absent from both matches.
The exclusion puzzled many fans and cricket analysts, especially given Sarfaraz’s record average of 82.76 in first-class cricket — the third-highest in history for Indian batters with 2,000+ runs. His last Test appearance came against New Zealand at Wankhede in November 2024, where he scored 150 in one of the innings. Since then, he has remained on the fringes of national selection, despite staying match-fit and in form.
The snub didn’t go unnoticed on social media.
Meet Sarfaraz Khan:
– he avg 65+ in FC,
– he did great vs Eng in his debit series when India were 0-1 down,
– he scored 150 runs 2 tests ago,
– reduced 17 kg weight
– passed yoyo testNot picked for Ind-A, another career destroyed by Agarkar & Gambhir!!pic.twitter.com/W6BnG7cceJ
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) October 21, 2025
Feel for Sarfaraz Khan…!!!!! 💔
He played in the England tour for India A team, scored 92 runs in first unofficial match but then out of the picture due to injury – improved his fitness, lost lots weight returned to Ranji Trophy (made important 74 runs) but no place in the… pic.twitter.com/cLnMWBipcA
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 21, 2025
Political row erupts after Shama Mohamed questions Sarfaraz Khan’s omission
What started as fan frustration soon took a political turn after Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed alleged religious bias in the selection process. In a strongly worded post on X, she wrote:
“Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter.”
— Shama Mohamed, in a post on X
Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname ! #justasking . We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter
— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) October 22, 2025
Her remarks, aimed at newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir, immediately triggered intense reactions across the political spectrum.
Backing her statement, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi said:
“…It is true that Muslims are being disrespected in all areas, Muslims are not being allowed to offer namaz, they just want to suppress Muslims… The players who are playing well, irrespective of their religion, should be given an opportunity to play.”
— Abu Asim Azmi, reacting to Shama Mohamed’s post
Social media divided over communal angle
While some supported Mohamed’s concerns, others pushed back against introducing a religious lens to cricket selection. One user commented:
“Really? Do cricketing form, team balance and performance decide selection? Let’s not drag surnames into everything.”
— Unnamed social media user, in reply to Shama Mohamed
Another, named KaustubhP, added:
“Just like @RahulGandhi get selected as Congress boss for life because of his surname?! #justasking.”
— KaustubhP, social media user on X.
Just like @RahulGandhi get selected as Congress boss for life because of his surname?! #justasking
We know where you Piddis stand on that matter.— KaustubhP (@causticcos) October 22, 2025
A user named Achut Kumar Gundappa also weighed in with a reminder of Indian cricket’s legacy:
“Before this question, let us take a look at Indian cricket history. How many remember the names of cricketing legends like Syed Abid Ali, Syed Kirmani, Tiger Pataudi, and Md. Azharuddin, Saad Bin Jung, etc. I think Indian cricket is above religion.”
Before this question let us take take a look at Indian cricket history. How many remember the names of cricketing Legends like Syed Abid Ali, Syed Kirmani, Tiger Pataudi, Md. Azharuddin, Saad Bin Jung …… etc. I think Indian cricket is above religion.
— Achut Kumar Gundappa (@achutkg) October 22, 2025
Previous comments on Rohit Sharma resurface
This wasn’t the first time Shama Mohamed’s remarks stirred debate in cricket circles. Earlier this year, she had publicly criticised Rohit Sharma, saying:
“- @ImRo45 is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!”
— Shama Mohamed, in a post on X on Mar 2, 2025
Responding to her, a Pakistan-based sports journalist defended Sharma as a:
“mighty effective and world-class performer.”
Mohamed doubled down:
“What is so world-class about him when compared to his predecessors like Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni, Kohli, Kapil Dev, Shastri, and the rest? He is a mediocre captain as well as a mediocre player who got lucky to be the Captain of India.”
Later, she invoked Virat Kohli in contrast:
“always compliments other cricketers.”
And in a follow-up post, she sought to clarify her remarks:
“I just spoke in a generic manner. I fail to understand how in a democracy, we don’t have the right to speak.”
AIMIM and BJP respond, lines drawn
Political commentary continued with Waris Pathan, spokesperson for the AIMIM, offering his take in an interview with India Today:
“When a man is averaging so much, there is definitely more to it. Why hasn’t he been picked?”
On the other side of the spectrum, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla sharply condemned Mohamed’s tweet, stating:
“This lady and her party are sick. After calling Rohit Sharma fat, she and her party now want to divide even our cricket team on communal lines? Desh ka partition karke mann nahi bhara kya? In the same team Mohammad Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed will play! Stop dividing India on communal and caste lines.”
This lady & her party is sick. After calling Rohit Sharma fat- she and her party want to divide even our cricket team on communal lines? Desh ka partition karke mann nahi bhara kya?
In the same team MOHAMMAD SIRAJ AND KHALEEL AHMED will play ! Stop dividing India on communal… pic.twitter.com/mUEqdeAK9o
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) October 22, 2025
Mohsin Raza, former Uttar Pradesh minister, also spoke out during a televised interview, saying:
“No need to politicise this. Shami plays, Siraj plays. This is unfair.”
— Mohsin Raza, in an interview with a news channel, as quoted by Hindustan Times
The selection question remains
Amid the furore, Sarfaraz Khan has maintained silence, focusing on preparations for the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season with Mumbai. Despite making his Test debut under Rohit Sharma in February 2024 and accumulating 371 runs in six matches — including a century and three fifties — his exclusion from the India A squad continues to raise questions about the criteria selectors are relying on.
While some reports suggest his omission may relate to squad balance or past injuries, the debate sparked by this decision is unlikely to die down soon — especially when political voices and social media firestorms are added to the mix.
Full India A squads for South Africa A series
India squad for the first four-day match:
Rishabh Pant (captain, wicketkeeper), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagadeesan (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain.
India squad for the second four-day match:
Rishabh Pant (captain, wicketkeeper), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
