If you look at Sarfaraz Khan’s record against good-quality high pace bowling, it is not that good: Brad Hogg

Sarfaraz Khan’s extraordinary numbers in the domestic arena have once again been overlooked as the youngster failed to make it to India’s Test squad once again. The 25-year-old has been plundering runs in red-ball cricket, but the selectors have not shown any kind of faith in him so far. Meanwhile, the selectors have also not cleared the reason behind his omission, as the player has already expressed disappointment after getting ignored.

Talking about the entire situation, former Australia international Brad Hogg mentioned that Sarfaraz Khan’s poor record against high-quality pacers is one of the reasons behind him getting overlooked for international cricket. However, the 52-year-old however is hopeful that if Sarfaraz gets better in the next IPL, he can very well earn a call-up in the national team.

“Sarfaraz Khan has been sensational in the Ranji Trophy. Why is he not in this squad? I know why Sarfaraz Khan wasn’t picked and is not looked out in the India lineup right now at Test level.

“One - he bats in the middle order for his state team that’s five or six. Also, in the IPL if you look at his record against good-quality high pace bowling, it’s not that good. I think this is where the Indian selectors are a little bit shy with Sarfaraz Khan. If he can improve that in the next IPL then I’m sure he’s going to have a long career for India at Test level,” Hogg mentioned on his YouTube channel.

The Indian selectors want to go with youth, with more aggressive batting at the top: Hogg

Hogg also believes that Cheteshwar Pujara’s exclusion has more to do with his strike rate and less about his performance. The former cricketer added that India wants its top order batters to play an aggressive brand of cricket, and hence they have dropped the veteran batter.

“I think it’s got nothing to do with his performance. He’s been one of the best number 3’s over the last decade. All it’s got to do with his strike rate. I think the Indian selectors want to go with youth, with more aggressive batting at the top of the order now,” Hogg said.