India, Oct. 22 -- Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Wednesday courted controversy after she accused India coach and former BJP MP Gautam Gambhir of showing "religious bias" in the non-selection of Sarfaraz Khan for India's recent cricket assignments.

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 remarks came soon after Sarfaraz Khan's exclusion from the India A squad for the upcoming series against South Africa A in Bengaluru.

The post triggered widespread criticism, with many calling it an attempt to give a communal twist to a purely cricketing matter.

Sarfaraz, who last represented India in the home series a...