'Dividing The Cricket Team': BJP Slams Congress's Shama Mohamed For Sarfaraz Khan Exclusion Remark

Last Updated:October 22, 2025, 13:42 IST

The controversy comes amid growing debate over Sarfaraz Khan’s continued omission from national squads despite strong domestic performances.

Sarfaraz Khan ignored for India A-South Africa A series. (Picture Credit: PTI)

A political row erupted on Tuesday after Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed questioned the exclusion of cricketer Sarfaraz Khan from the India A squad for the upcoming South Africa A series, hinting at communal bias in team selection.

Taking to X, Shama Mohamed wrote, “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter." Her post quickly sparked a sharp response from BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who accused the Congress of trying to communalise cricket.

“This lady and her party are sick. After calling Rohit Sharma fat, she and her party now want to divide even our cricket team on communal lines? Desh ka partition karke mann nahi bhara kya? In the same team Mohammad Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed will play! Stop dividing India on communal and caste lines," Poonawalla wrote.

The controversy comes amid growing debate over Sarfaraz Khan’s continued omission from national squads despite strong domestic performances. The right-handed batsman last represented India A against the England Lions in Canterbury, where he scored a solid 92. However, he missed the Australia A series last month due to recovery at the National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

On Tuesday, when the BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarka,r announced the squads for two four-day games against South Africa A, Sarfaraz’s name was missing once again. Both squads will be captained by Rishabh Pant.

While fans and some political voices expressed disappointment over the non-selection, sources within the board said the decision may have been based on fitness and team balance, rather than any bias, a fact that did little to stop the social media storm that followed.

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