'Not even close to the truth': Sarfaraz Khan's omission from India A squad triggers debate; Irfan Pathan reacts

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on the growing debate around Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from the India A squad for the upcoming first-class matches against South Africa A, urging caution against turning cricket selection into a political or communal issue.

Sarfaraz, who turned 28 on Wednesday, was not included in either of the two squads led by Rishabh Pant, despite an impressive domestic record, including a first-class average of over 100 in the last five years.


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His omission reignited discussions among fans and observers questioning whether the Mumbai batter remains in contention for India’s second-string side.

"Selectors and the coach (management) will always have a plan. Sometimes it might look wrong in the fans’ eyes, but please don’t twist things or create narratives that aren’t even close to the truth," Pathan wrote on X, seemingly in reaction to the discussion and debate that was flaring up on the internet.

Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed fueled the debate on social media, alleging religious bias in the non-selection and questioning the stance of head coach Gautam Gambhir. “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter,” she wrote on X.

The remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who described the comments as divisive. “Stop dividing India on communal lines, caste lines. Keep your dirty political communal agenda out of cricket Shama,” he said, noting that other Muslim players, Mohammad Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed, remain part of the team.

Reacting to the contrasting opinions, Pathan emphasized the need to focus on the game rather than letting social media and political narratives create unnecessary tension. He highlighted how quickly wild conclusions were being drawn without context, urging fans and leaders to respect the selection process.

Pathan’s remarks come at a time when Sarfaraz’s international appearances have been sporadic. After making his Test debut under Rohit Sharma against England in February last year, he has scored 371 runs in six Tests at an average of 37.10, with a century and three fifties.

His last outing for India was in the home series against New Zealand in November 2024, and he has since been left out of major tours, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the England tour, and the home series against the West Indies.

The debate around Sarfaraz’s exclusion from the India A team was also understood as the 'door being shut' for him, as emphasized by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

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