New Delhi, Oct 25 (NationPress) Former chairman of the national selection committee, MSK Prasad, expressed his firm belief that players are not chosen based on their name, surname, or religion during the selection process. This statement follows accusations from a politician against Indian coach Gautam Gambhir and the selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar, suggesting that Sarfaraz Khan's exclusion was due to his surname.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Prasad, who held the position of Chief National Selector from 2016 to 2020, emphasized that the selection committee does not exhibit any bias towards players based on their religious or community backgrounds. He remarked that individuals who believe otherwise ‘don’t grasp the essence of Indian cricket at all.’

“It'll never happen. When a player is selected, it’s essential to focus on performance rather than communities or regional affiliations. The discussions arise only when a player is dropped. We acknowledge that Sarfaraz Khan has performed exceptionally well in domestic cricket; there must be justifiable reasons for the selectors’ decisions. I cannot foresee Sarfaraz being dropped in an India A match,” he stated.

“There has to be a valid reason for any decision, but the selectors should clarify that. My stance is clear: regionalism and communalism do not influence player selections. We prioritize a player's performance above all else. If anyone believes otherwise, they are mistaken and lack understanding of Indian cricket,” Prasad added.

A political stir was ignited recently when Shama Mohamed, Congress’s national spokesperson, accused the Indian cricket team head coach Gambhir, a former BJP Member of Parliament, of religious favoritism following Sarfaraz's omission from the India 'A' squad for the upcoming series against South Africa 'A'.

On social media, Shama questioned, “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected due to his surname? Just asking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter,” prompting significant political and social media backlash.

However, Prasad refuted these claims and clarified that the selectors would never bias their decisions, focusing solely on players' performances and skills.

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