India, Oct. 23 -- India batter Sarfaraz Khan's omission from the 15-member India A squad for the upcoming two-match red-ball series against South Africa A created a stir on social media. Several cricket experts, including legendary Ravichandran Ashwin, questioned the baffling selection announced on Tuesday. However, the BCCI finally gained some backing on Wednesday, as former India cricketer Irfan Pathan slammed the false narratives targeting the board.

Sarfaraz has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket and recently underwent a major transformation, shedding 17 kilograms over the summer. His fitness was evident when he scored back-to-back centuries in the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament. However, an injury ruled him out of the...