Sarfraz Khan (Photo credit: X)
MUMBAI: It will be a huge boost for Mumbai as the BCCI is likely to release Sarfaraz Khan from the national team for the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur, to ensure that the batsman is available for the upcoming matches of the reigning Ranji Trophy champions. Iran Cup They were held to a draw against the rest of India in Lucknow.
Sarfaraz was included in the squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai, which India won by 280 runs on Sunday, but was not included in the XI. The second Test match will be played at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1, while the Irani Cup will be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekkana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from October 1 to 5.
“India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar is keen that Sarfaraj should be released from the main squad for the Irani Cup, barring any last-minute net injury or fitness issue to any of Team India’s key batsmen. In any case, it takes around an hour to travel from Kanpur to Lucknow, so Sarfaraj can leave for Lucknow even after the Kanpur Test begins,” a source told TOI. The situation will become clearer once Mumbai selects their squad for the Irani Cup on Tuesday.
Sarfaraz, who has scored 4,183 runs at 66.39 with 14 hundreds and 14 fifties in 50 first-class matches, will be a boost to Mumbai’s batting, but their bowling will suffer a major setback with pacer Tushar Deshpande sidelined as he recovers from ankle and knee injuries. “Deshpande is likely to be out for the next few months. He will also miss the first round of the Ranji Trophy. The earliest he could return is the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in November,” the source said.
In another interesting development, talented youngster Musheer Khan, who scored 181 at number three on his Duleep Trophy debut earlier this month, is likely to open for Mumbai alongside Prithvi Shaw in the Irani Cup after season-opener Bhupen Lalwani left for Chhatisgarh. Musheer is a regular opener for DY Patil’s team in local tournaments in Mumbai.
Sarfaraz was included in the squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai, which India won by 280 runs on Sunday, but was not included in the XI. The second Test match will be played at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1, while the Irani Cup will be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekkana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from October 1 to 5.
“India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar is keen that Sarfaraj should be released from the main squad for the Irani Cup, barring any last-minute net injury or fitness issue to any of Team India’s key batsmen. In any case, it takes around an hour to travel from Kanpur to Lucknow, so Sarfaraj can leave for Lucknow even after the Kanpur Test begins,” a source told TOI. The situation will become clearer once Mumbai selects their squad for the Irani Cup on Tuesday.
Sarfaraz, who has scored 4,183 runs at 66.39 with 14 hundreds and 14 fifties in 50 first-class matches, will be a boost to Mumbai’s batting, but their bowling will suffer a major setback with pacer Tushar Deshpande sidelined as he recovers from ankle and knee injuries. “Deshpande is likely to be out for the next few months. He will also miss the first round of the Ranji Trophy. The earliest he could return is the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in November,” the source said.
In another interesting development, talented youngster Musheer Khan, who scored 181 at number three on his Duleep Trophy debut earlier this month, is likely to open for Mumbai alongside Prithvi Shaw in the Irani Cup after season-opener Bhupen Lalwani left for Chhatisgarh. Musheer is a regular opener for DY Patil’s team in local tournaments in Mumbai.
