Sarfaraz Khan to be released from India's Test squad for Irani Cup: Report

Sarfaraz Khan is likely to be released from India’s squad for the second Test against Bangladesh to feature in Mumbai’s Irani Cup match against the Rest of India in Lucknow, starting on October 1. The second Test will be played in Kanpur from September 27 onwards. 

The middle-order batter, who made his Test debut against England earlier this year and scored 200 runs in five innings at an average of 50, was left out of the playing XI for the first Test in Chennai. India went with KL Rahul ahead of Sarfaraz and won the game by 280 runs.

It’s highly doubtful that India will make any changes to their batting unit in Kanpur. Speaking to the Times of India, a close source said, “India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar is keen that, baring any last-minute injuries in the nets or fitness issues to any of the main batsmen in Team India, Sarfaraz should be released from the main squad to allow him to play in the Irani Cup.

“In any case, it takes just about an hour to reach Lucknow from Kanpur, so Sarfaraz can leave for Lucknow even much after the Kanpur Test has begun.”

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is yet to announce the full squad but the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur are set to feature in the five-day contest.  Mumbai, who won their 42nd Ranji Trophy title earlier this year, will be boosted by Sarfaraz’s presence. Prithvi Shaw and Musheer Khan will also be part of the Mumbai squad.

Tushar Deshpande, however, is recovering from a couple of injuries and will be out of action for at least two months. “Deshpande is unlikely to be available for the next couple of months. He will miss the initial rounds of the Ranji Trophy too. The earliest he may return is for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in November,” the source said.

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