Chetan Sharma opens on Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw’s exclusion from India squad

On Monday, the All India National Selection Panel led by Chetan Sharma named ODI and T20I squads for the New Zealand tour and ODI and Test squads for the Bangladesh tour. The likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw were expected to get their call-ups for Test and T20I squads respectively but they were ignored by the selectors.

The chief selector Chetan Sharma has shed light on their exclusion and also the non-selection of players like Jasprit Bumrah, Ajinkya Rahane, and Hanuma Vihari for Bangladesh Test matches.

Chetan Sharma revealed that they didn’t want to hurry Jasprit Bumrah again. Bumrah was recently ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a back injury.

“He will definitely be part of the team for the Australia series,” Sharma said when asked of the premium pacer’s current status. “We do not want to rush things with him this time as we did before. So we’ve been cautious with him for the Bangladesh series.”

On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane could not find a place for the Bangladesh Test matches. Sharma revealed Rahane will have to score more runs to come back into contention for selection.

“For him to come back into the team, he will have to score more runs….he knows that,” said Sharma. “He has been in constant touch with the selection committee. The middle order is so packed that even Hanuma Vihari has found a spot in the squad.”

Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan has amassed 1380 runs in 15 first-class innings this year, including six centuries at an average of 106.15. However, he was still ignored by selectors.

Sharma revealed Khan will soon get his chance in the national team.

“We are giving him the opportunities to him where we can. We opted for him in the India A squad. I’ve been speaking about him to the selectors as well. He will get an opportunity very soon.”

Furthermore, Prithvi Shaw has been in fine form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as he has scored 287 runs in eight matches at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 186.36.

Sharma said on Shaw: “We basically are looking at Prithvi, we’re constantly in touch with Prithvi, he has been doing well. There’s nothing wrong with him at all. The thing is – the players who are already playing and those who are performing, they have got their chances. He [Shaw] will definitely get his chance. The selectors are in constant touch with him, talking to him, he is doing well and he will get his chances very soon.”