Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his unhappiness over the BCCI selectors' decision to not choose Sarfaraz Khan for the Test team, despite his great form.
The Mumbaikar has scored consistently in domestic cricket over the last couple of years but has been unfortunate in not getting a call-up to the team. The Mumbaikar has scored 12 centuries — including one triple and two double-hundreds — since 2020. In the last three domestic seasons, he has a brilliant 2441 runs but the selectors have not picked him once in the side.
Speaking up against the selection policy during an exclusive interview with Sports Today, Gavaskar said that if they wanted slim players, then they should pick models from a fashion show.
“He is not staying off the field when he is scoring hundreds, he is back on the field again. All that tells you that the man is fit for cricket. If you are looking for only slim and trim guys, then you might as well go to a fashion show and pick some models and then give them a bat and ball in their hand and then include them. You have cricketers in all shapes and sizes. Don’t go by the size, but go by the runs and the wickets," Gavaskar said.
He was in full support of the 25-year-old while adding that scoring centuries is no mean feat, especially if he is unfit, “At the end of the day, if you are unfit, you are not going to score hundreds. So cricket fitness is most important. I don’t have a problem with you wanting to do the Yo-Yo test or whatever it is, but the Yo-Yo test cannot be the only criterion.
You got to make sure that the man is fit for cricket as well. And if the person, whoever it is, is fit for cricket, then I don’t think it should really matter," Sunil Gavaskar added.
Sarfaraz recently smashed his 13th first-class century against Delhi during the ongoing Ranji Trophy match. The India A regular slammed 125 runs off 155 balls, including 16 fours and four sixes.
