EXCLUSIVE: Sarfaraz Khan should let the bat do the talking, says MSK Prasad

Former Indian chief selector has MSK Prasad called for restarting of India A tours.

Mumbai’s majestic middle order batter Sarfaraz Khan became the biggest talking point in Indian cricket in the last few weeks. Despite having stellar numbers to back his international selection, Sarfaraz is consistently ignored in the Indian red-ball squad. Recently after announcement of India’s squad for the upcoming West Indies, Sarfaraz’s non-selection became a huge controversy.

A lot of former cricketers and fans came out in support of the Mumbai batter. In an exclusive conversation with Khel Now's Kartik Mehindru, Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad has come out in support of Sarfaraz Khan and said he should have been selected, but he should never get disappointed, rather work hard to secure his place in the Indian squad. Sarfaraz Khan averaged above 90 in the last three domestic seasons for Mumbai. 

MSK Prasad comes in support of Sarfaraz Khan

Selectors dropped Cheteshwar Pujara from the squad due to his non-performance and in place of him, picked 4 openers, few former cricketers suggested that Sarfaraz Khan should have been picked to balance the squad. Former Indian wicket-keeper MSK Prasad said,

“I don’t know what was the reason behind Sarfaraz’s non-selection, but what I can tell you is that once VVS Laxman was not picked but he went back in domestic cricket scored 1300-1400 runs and that was the time of when India had Rahul, Sachin, Sourav, Viru kind of players in Test squad. Sarfaraz Khan is a good player and he should not get disappointed and dejected. He should take VVS Laxman as an example to fight back. Selection is not in Sarfaraz’s hand he just needs to talk with the bat”. 

MSK Prasad suggests BCCI to restart India A tours

AS Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Cheteshwar Pujara have crossed the 35 mark in age, transition talks have begun in Indian test cricket. MSK Prasad feels that to look for younger players and options India is missing out on big India A tours massively. He added,

“We are missing out on India A series badly, as all the younger guys like Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Yashasvi Jaiswal though they have made it now but they are the guys we look forward to. India A series have stopped maybe because of Covid or any other reason but the supply chain of the next generation remains the India A tour. Players like Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and many broke through the ranks backing their India A performances only”. 

'Need to identify 10-15 pace bowlers'

Talking about the next generation of pace bowlers, MSK Prasad said that the board will need identify 10-15 pacers from domestic cricket and groom them accordingly. India A tours will make them ready for International cricket whenever the opportunity comes. Prasad said,

“We need to identify a few names and then centrally monitor their growth, fitness, and everyone. NCA is one place that should be monitoring all this and along with this send them on India A tours so in case any replacement is needed someone will be ready enough for the opportunity. We brought in players like Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini as they did well in India A tours. I believe the BCCI should start thinking again about starting India A cricket”.