Congress leader Shama Mohamed has raised concerns over the exclusion of cricketer Sarfaraz Khan from the India A squad, suggesting that his surname may have influenced the decision. In a post on X, she questioned, "Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter." This comment follows the announcement of the India A team for upcoming matches against South Africa A, where Sarfaraz was notably absent.

Sarfaraz, who recently turned 28, has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, scoring 371 runs in six Tests with an average of 37.10. His last appearance for the national team was during the home series against New Zealand in November 2024. Despite his solid domestic performances, including a century and three fifties, he has not been selected for several key series, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the England tour.

The controversy has sparked a strong response from BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who criticized Mohamed's remarks as divisive. He stated, "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?" Poonawalla emphasized that players like Mohammad Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed are part of the same team, urging an end to communal politics in cricket.

Former cricketer Atul Wassan dismissed the allegations of bias, calling them "preposterous" and asserting that such issues have never been a factor in Indian cricket selections. Meanwhile, AIMIM leaders have also questioned Sarfaraz's omission, highlighting his impressive domestic record and calling for transparency in selection processes.

As the debate continues, many fans and cricket enthusiasts are left wondering about the criteria used for team selections, especially for a player with Sarfaraz's track record.