After selection uproar, Auqib Nabi joins India's Test squad but with a twist
IND vs AFG One-off Test: Auqib Nabi's omission from India's Test squad sparked widespread debate, but the BCCI has now handed the Jammu and Kashmir pacer an unexpected opportunity, offering a twist to the selection story.
Auqib Nabi's omission from India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan sparked considerable debate among fans and experts, with many questioning the selectors' decision to overlook one of domestic cricket's standout performers. However, the BCCI has now offered a twist to the story.
India Today has learnt that the Jammu and Kashmir pacer has been included in the squad as a back-up player for the Test against Afghanistan, ensuring he will remain with the national setup despite missing out on a spot in the official 15-member squad. India are scheduled to face Afghanistan in Mullanpur from June 6 to June 10.
As many as seven bowlers have been asked to join the squad as net bowlers, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday. Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari will also be joining the squad in New Chandigarh.
India will begin training at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday for the Test match, starting June 6.
"Yes, Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but there are six others who have also been called to join the India nets. Due to extreme weather conditions, the two premier fast bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, can't go flat out in the nets after a gruelling three games in seven days with travel. The batters would need adequate practice," PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
WHY NABI MATTERED
The decision to leave Nabi out of the original squad had raised eyebrows largely because of the remarkable domestic season he enjoyed. The 24-year-old was named Ranji Trophy Player of the Series after claiming 60 wickets at an astonishing average of 12.57, comfortably finishing among the competition's standout performers.
Nabi also delivered when it mattered most. In the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka, he produced a memorable five-wicket haul, removing established India stars KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair as Jammu and Kashmir stunned one of the domestic heavyweights.
Addressing the omission, chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted Nabi's performances had been discussed but pointed to team balance as a key factor.
"Someone who has done well over the last two seasons, there's always a chat around that, but you don't get a lot of seamers in when you play in India," Agarkar said after announcing the squad.
THE IPL QUESTION
Nabi's supporters pointed to his red-ball record, but the young pacer did endure a difficult maiden IPL campaign with Delhi Capitals. He went wicketless in five appearances and was unable to make a notable impact with the bat, a return that contrasted sharply with his dominant performances in domestic cricket.
The explanation, however, did little to silence the criticism surrounding his omission. The selectors instead opted for Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar, who enjoyed a solid Ranji Trophy campaign with 23 wickets in seven matches at an average of 21.26. While Brar's numbers were impressive in their own right, many felt Nabi's extraordinary body of work had made him difficult to ignore, turning his exclusion into one of the biggest talking points surrounding the squad announcement.
The BCCI's decision to bring Nabi into the squad as a back-up player now appears to be a middle ground of sorts, rewarding his outstanding domestic performances while keeping him within the national setup ahead of a potentially bigger role in the future.
Auqib Nabi's omission from India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan sparked considerable debate among fans and experts, with many questioning the selectors' decision to overlook one of domestic cricket's standout performers. However, the BCCI has now offered a twist to the story.
India Today has learnt that the Jammu and Kashmir pacer has been included in the squad as a back-up player for the Test against Afghanistan, ensuring he will remain with the national setup despite missing out on a spot in the official 15-member squad. India are scheduled to face Afghanistan in Mullanpur from June 6 to June 10.
As many as seven bowlers have been asked to join the squad as net bowlers, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday. Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari will also be joining the squad in New Chandigarh.
India will begin training at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday for the Test match, starting June 6.
"Yes, Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but there are six others who have also been called to join the India nets. Due to extreme weather conditions, the two premier fast bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, can't go flat out in the nets after a gruelling three games in seven days with travel. The batters would need adequate practice," PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
WHY NABI MATTERED
The decision to leave Nabi out of the original squad had raised eyebrows largely because of the remarkable domestic season he enjoyed. The 24-year-old was named Ranji Trophy Player of the Series after claiming 60 wickets at an astonishing average of 12.57, comfortably finishing among the competition's standout performers.
Nabi also delivered when it mattered most. In the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka, he produced a memorable five-wicket haul, removing established India stars KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair as Jammu and Kashmir stunned one of the domestic heavyweights.
Addressing the omission, chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted Nabi's performances had been discussed but pointed to team balance as a key factor.
"Someone who has done well over the last two seasons, there's always a chat around that, but you don't get a lot of seamers in when you play in India," Agarkar said after announcing the squad.
THE IPL QUESTION
Nabi's supporters pointed to his red-ball record, but the young pacer did endure a difficult maiden IPL campaign with Delhi Capitals. He went wicketless in five appearances and was unable to make a notable impact with the bat, a return that contrasted sharply with his dominant performances in domestic cricket.
The explanation, however, did little to silence the criticism surrounding his omission. The selectors instead opted for Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar, who enjoyed a solid Ranji Trophy campaign with 23 wickets in seven matches at an average of 21.26. While Brar's numbers were impressive in their own right, many felt Nabi's extraordinary body of work had made him difficult to ignore, turning his exclusion into one of the biggest talking points surrounding the squad announcement.
The BCCI's decision to bring Nabi into the squad as a back-up player now appears to be a middle ground of sorts, rewarding his outstanding domestic performances while keeping him within the national setup ahead of a potentially bigger role in the future.
