Saba Karim slams selection tactics after India’s 2-0 loss to South Africa

Former Indian wicket-keeper Saba Karim slammed the selectors after India suffered a 2-0 series loss against South Africa. The hosts lost the second Test match by a gigantic margin of 408 runs at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Wednesday. 

Karim questioned the selectors for not giving chances to Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sarfaraz Khan despite their decent performances in the domestic circuit. Easwaran was part of the Australia and England tour but he wasn’t picked for the home Test series against the West Indies and South Africa.

Furthermore, Khan was dropped from the Indian squad for the England tour despite scoring a fine knock 150 runs against New Zealand. Khan was not given his chance on the Australia tour but he was part of the squad.

Saba Karim said on ESPN Cricinfo, “We took both of them to Australia. Without testing them out, now they are out of the Test side. Before that, when played the home series [against New Zealand], we only had one centurion from the Indian side. That was Sarfaraz Khan. Apart from that, there were no other big scores. And what have we done with him? We take him to Australia. Without putting him in the Test XI, we throw him out.

“Abhimanyu Easwaran, he’s been around for a number of years. He’s got 27 first-class hundreds. Again, we take him to Australia. He’s led India A side and again, without trying him out, he’s now out of the reckoning it seems. There is a flawed policy,” the 58-year-old added.

Karim questioned the team management for giving chances to all-rounders instead of specialist players in the team.

“Instead of specialist skills, you have opted for multi-dimensional players, which is not right for Test cricket. One should also look at the flawed selection policies. Whom are we taking now in the Test squad? At times, instead of addressing issues, we brush it under the carpet. We play Test cricket now. After 3-4 days, we get into the white-ball formats, then everything is forgotten.”

India will next take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series, starting Sunday.