"Without putting him in the Test XI, we throw him out" - Saba Karim slams selection tactics after India's 2-0 loss to South Africa 

Former keeper and ex-selector Saba Karim slammed India's selectors over their treatment of Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran after the team's 2-0 surrender to South Africa. Karim opined that both Sarfaraz and Easwaran were discarded without being given a fair chance to prove themselves.

South Africa hammered India by 408 runs on Day 5 of the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, November 26. Set an improbable target of 549, India were bowled out for 140 in 63.5 overs. Ravindra Jadeja (54) was the only batter to show some resistance.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Karim questioned the absence of Sarfaraz and Easwaran from the Test squad against South Africa. Both the batters were part of the Australia tour, but were discarded without being given a chance to prove themselves Down Under. He commented:

"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.

Sarfaraz has played six Tests so far in which he has scored 371 runs at an average of 37.10, with one hundred and three half-centuries. As for Easwaran, he is yet to make his Test debut.

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"You have opted for multi-dimensional players" - Saba Karim bats for specialists after India's 2-0 series loss to South Africa

India's selection for the two Tests against South Africa has come in for plenty of criticism. In Kolkata, they went in with as many as three spin-bowling all-rounders, with Washington Sundar batting at No. 3. Karim has questioned the team management over their preference for multi-dimensional players ahead of specialists. The former India stumper commented:

"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."

Having lost the Test series 2-0, India will now face South Africa in three ODIs starting November 30. This will be followed by a five-match T20I series.