Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the Indian selectors for ignoring Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India recently announced the squad for the first two test matches of the series. Despite a prolific record in first-class cricket, Sarfaraz Khan was excluded from the team.
In six matches, the Mumbai batter has scored 556 runs at an average of 92.66, including three centuries and a half-century this season. He averages 80.47 in 36 first-class matches, with twelve centuries to his name. His exclusion from the Indian test squad resulted in a lot of criticism from the fans and experts. Some argue that Sarfaraz Khan’s fitness is an important reason for his non-selection.
Speaking to Sports Today, Sunil Gavaskar expressed that scoring runs matters at the end of the day, even if a player is unfit. He added that the Yo-Yo test should not be am important criterion for players to be selected in the team. The former Indian skipper said,
“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.”
Don’t go by the size, but go by the runs and the wickets: Sunil Gavaskar
Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar further expressed that Sarfaraz Khan’s centuries in first-class cricket show that he is fit for cricket. He added that if the selectors want to only pick slim players, they should to go fashion shows and look for models. The legendary cricketer stated that the selectors should look at a player’s performance and not his body.
“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,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
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