'It's an abuse to domestic cricket' - Former Indian fast bowler lashes out at selectors for constantly ignoring Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan (Source: Twitter)

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan smashed another breathtaking hundred in the ongoing Ranji Season against Delhi on Tuesday. It was his third century of the season as he smacked 125 off 155 balls at Feroz Shah Kotla as Mumbai got bowled out for 293 on the first day of Group B game. Following his magnificent knock Indian Cricket Board’s domestic's Twitter handle shared the video of his hundred celebration with the caption: "Hundred and counting. Yet another impressive knock from Sarfaraz Khan..."

The post got traction on social media and also attracted criticism from fans for not picking the star batter in India’s squad for the first two Tests against Australia. Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad used strong words to remind the selectors about Sarfaraz. He said Sarfaraz's non-selection is "an abuse to domestic cricket".

"Not having him in the Test Team despite 3 blockbuster domestic seasons is not only unfair on Sarfaraz Khan, but it’s an abuse to domestic cricket, almost as if this platform doesn’t matter. And he is FIT to score those runs. As far as body weight goes, there are many with more kgs," Prasad tweeted slamming the reports against Sarafarz's fitness.

Not having him in the Test Team despite 3 blockbuster domestic seasons is not only unfair on Sarfaraz Khan, but it’s an abuse to domestic cricket,almost as if this platform doesn’t matter. And he is FIT to score those runs. As far as body weight goes, there are many with more kgs https://t.co/kenO5uOlSp

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) January 17, 2023

Sarfaraz averages over 100 in the last three Ranji seasons

Sarfaraz has been averaging over 100 in the last three editions of the Ranji Trophy. In the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, he has amassed 1,910 runs in just 12 games, averaging 136.42. He scored seven centuries in 18 innings, and also made 11 fifties.

Since 2019, the Mumbai batter has scored 2,289 runs in 22 innings at an average of 134.64 with nine hundreds, five fifties, two double hundreds and a triple ton.

He’s also the leading run-scorer of the ongoing season with 982 runs to his name in nine innings at an average of 122.75 scoring four hundreds and two fifties.

Despite, his staggering numbers, Sarfaraz failed to find a place in the Indian squad for the first two Tests of the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia. The selectors instead went ahead and included Suryakumar Yadav for his exploits in T20Is.

Following his non-selection, the 25-year-old expressed his frustration by putting up Instagram stories of his record numbers.