When politics runs out of oxygen, Congress finds a new arena to inject its old poison — religion. This time, it’s not a temple, not a school, not even Parliament. It’s cricket — the one institution that unites 1.4 billion Indians across faiths. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed, known more for her television theatrics than for logic, has accused Indian selectors of ignoring Sarfaraz Khan “because of his surname.” Her insinuation — that India’s cricket selection is guided by religion — is not only malicious but also a disgrace to every Indian player, coach, and selector who earned their place through merit. Let’s get the facts straight. The BCCI selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, explained the decision clearly: Karun Nair, not Sarfaraz, was picked because of his consistent form and experience in domestic and county cricket. That’s selection logic, not communal arithmetic. But the Congress machinery doesn’t care for facts. It thrives on headlines and polarization. Having lost relevance in governance, it’s now trying to communalize even the Indian dressing room. Shama Mohamed’s remark — “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname?” — was not a question. It was an accusation, designed to pit religion against performance, community against country. And conveniently timed — just as Bihar heads to polls, where Congress and its allies hope to consolidate Muslim votes by creating yet another “victim narrative.” This is the same old Congress playbook that divided a nation in 1947 and has since thrived on identity politics — Hindu vs Muslim, North vs South, upper caste vs lower caste. Now, it’s trying to rewrite the script as Hindus vs Muslims in cricket.
But Indian cricket has always been the finest example of inclusive meritocracy. From Syed Kirmani to Mohammed Azharuddin, from Zaheer Khan to Mohammed Shami, from Irfan Pathan to Mohammed Siraj, Muslim cricketers have not only represented India — they have made India proud. Did anyone ever ask if they were picked because of their religion? No. Because they earned their place — like everyone else. Ironically, Shama Mohamed once took a swipe at Rohit Sharma, questioning his fitness — and now suddenly lectures on fairness in selection! The hypocrisy would be amusing if it weren’t so corrosive. The Congress’s selective outrage reeks of opportunism. It never lauded Mohammed Shami when he led India’s charge in the World Cup. It never applauded Mohammed Siraj when he brought India glory in the Asia Cup final. But the moment a selection doesn’t go their way, it becomes “anti-Muslim bias.” This isn’t empathy — it’s exploitation. It’s not concern — it’s a calculated communal provocation. India’s cricketing ecosystem is among the most professional and transparent in the world. It has produced captains and icons who’ve transcended religion — from Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who led India with grace and vision, to Azharuddin, who captained with pride, to today’s giants like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. They didn’t play for their caste or creed. They played for the tricolour. If Congress leaders like Shama Mohamed can’t understand this, it’s because the Congress party itself has long forgotten what “national” in Indian National Congress once stood for. Let us be clear. Indian cricket has always been a celebration of diversity and discipline, not division. Congress’s communal narratives have no place in this game. The only “religion” that binds Indian cricket is the blue jersey — and the belief that talent, not tokenism, wins matches.
