'The rule is to prove your fitness, go to NCA and come back' - Saba Karim questions Hardik Pandya's T20 World Cup selection

Hardik Pandya has now missed two games for his franchise Mumbai Indians in the second leg of the IPL 2021 in the UAE. The franchise has confirmed there isn’t much to be worried about as far as his injury or come back is concerned. However, there are consequential concerns that have been raised by former Indian cricketer Saba Karim. 

Hardik has been named in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad, which is set to begin for India on October 24. At the time of naming the squad, the national team selectors had hinted that Pandya will play as a four-over specialist all-rounder during the tournament, which has forced his injury to become a talking point. 

Karim has questioned if the selectors knew that Pandya wasn’t fully fit when he was named in the squad. He also explained that the general rule for any player is to prove his fitness before being named in the question. There has been a cloud of questions over Hardik’s injury, which has forced him to miss both the matches which Mumbai has played, with management saying that he is recovering well and could be back soon. 

We don’t know what exactly happened with Pandya: Saba Karim

“He (Hardik) is a big player. But the question now is when he was selected for the Indian team, was he fully fit or not? If he was fit then it is justified. But if not, then when did this niggle happen? If he was carrying that injury then why was he selected? The general rule is – you have to prove your fitness and go to NCA and come back. This rule applies to everyone. So, the question is right but we don’t know what exactly happened with Pandya,” Saba Karim said on his Youtube channel ‘Khelneeti.’

The former Bengal and Bihar wicketkeeper batter further said that the selectors haven’t made a mistake selecting Ishan Kishan. He was speaking about Kishan’s lack of runs right through the IPL 2021. Karim seems to suggest that the runs Kishan has scored in the meantime for India in a couple of ODIs and T20Is are a positive sign. 

He also spoke about Suryakumar Yadav in a similar context. “We react too early and become judgemental. It is a huge challenge to be consistent in T20s. As cricket fans we need to stay patient with players like Ishan and Suryakumar,” Saba Karim concluded.