AIMIM’s Waris Pathan; Congress’ Shama Mohammed; Sarfaraz Khan
NEW DELHI: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan waded into the controversy over cricketer Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from the national team, backing Congress leader Shama Mohamed’s remark that the Mumbai batter’s religion was behind his continued snub.Also Read – ‘Had I been the selector…’: R Ashwin loses cool over Sarfaraz Khan’s omission, blasts Ajit Agarkar”(AIMIM chief) Owaisi tweeted about it…he (Sarfaraz) averages 110.47 in first-class cricket in last 5 years. He has 5 fifties, 10 hundreds and more than 2,500 runs during this period. Yet, he is not being given a chance. What is the reason?” Pathan said. He added, “Earlier he was called unfit and overweight. Now he has reduced his weight by 17 kilograms. The entire nation is questioning why, despite this, he is not being picked for the Indian team. People are asking, ‘What was the selection criteria? Why has he not been selected?’ Questions will be asked. Was his name or surname the reason? Selectors should explain. A young talent such as him should not be ruined.”Earlier, Congress leader Shama Mohamed, who had stirred controversy in March by allegedly fat-shaming India’s then-ODI captain Rohit Sharma, posted on X: “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter.” Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach of the national team, was also an MP of the ruling BJP, representing the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency from 2019 to 2024.The controversy over Sarfaraz Khan’s mission emerged on Tuesday, when his name was missing from the India ‘A’ squad for the upcoming series against South Africa ‘A’. The 28-year-old made his international debut in a Test against England in February 2024. He last represented the national team during New Zealand’s visit in October–November 2024—a series in which India was whitewashed 3-0, marking the team’s first home Test series defeat since losing to England in 2012–13. Khan scored a century, 150 runs, in the second innings of the first Test vs New Zealand in Bengaluru . In his six-Test career, he also has three other scores of 50 or more. Sarfaraz was also picked for India’s Test tour of Australia in November 2024 but did not play a single match, as Australia won the five-match series 3-1.