Umran Malik, Qamran Iqbal Omitted as Jammu Kashmir Name Squad for Ranji Preparatory Camp in Pondicherry | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Pacer Umran Malik, one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most high-profile cricketers in recent years, has been left out of the Union Territory’s squad for the Ranji Trophy preparatory camp scheduled to be held in Pondicherry, triggering fresh discussion around team selection ahead of the crucial second phase of the tournament.

Malik, who has represented India in ten One-Day Internationals and eight T20 Internationals, was part of the Jammu and Kashmir squad for the first half of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. However, he featured in only one match — against Rajasthan in Srinagar — where he went wicketless. His domestic campaign has been uneven this season; while he picked up six wickets in five matches during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was subsequently omitted from the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad as well.

Also missing from the preparatory camp list is experienced opener Qamran Iqbal, who played a pivotal role earlier this season by scoring a century in Jammu and Kashmir’s memorable Ranji Trophy victory over Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium — a result that marked one of the team’s standout performances in recent years.

In contrast, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has brought back several familiar names. Dikshant Kundal and Kawalpreet Singh have been included in the camp squad, while Umar Nazir and Shubham Pundir make their return, signalling a possible recalibration of the team’s balance ahead of the decisive fixtures.

Jammu and Kashmir will resume their Ranji Trophy campaign with a Group D encounter against Pondicherry at the Sichem Stadium from January 22 to 25. Head coach Ajay Sharma is set to join the squad on January 17, shortly after the team assembles in the south.

The team will then face Himachal Pradesh in their next fixture, scheduled from January 29 to February 1 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium in Nadaun. The Ranji Trophy knockout phase is slated to run from February 6 to February 28.

Currently, Jammu and Kashmir are placed second in Elite Group D, behind table-toppers Mumbai. The side has accumulated 20 points from five matches and remains well-positioned to push for a knockout berth, making the upcoming phase critical for their ambitions this season.

Explaining the decision to hold the preparatory camp in Pondicherry, the JKCA said the move was aimed at better acclimatisation and preparation. “To prepare thehttps://kashmirlife.net/kashmir-cricket-glory-amid-gridlock-vol-17-issue-39-417856/for the tournament and acclimatise the team, the management has decided to send its team to Pondicherry,” the association said in an official communication.

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According to the JKCA, players and members of the support staff will travel directly to Chennai from their respective locations on January 16, 2026, under arrangements made by the association. The onward journey from Chennai to Pondicherry will be by bus, organised by the Cricket Association of Pondicherry, with no individual travel permitted between the two cities.

Jammu and Kashmir squad for Ranji Trophy preparatory camp:

Shubham Khajuria, Dikshant Kundal, Yawar Hassan, Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Shubham Pundir, Kanhaiya Wadhwan, Kawalpreet Singh, Abid Mushtaq, Vanshaj Sharma, Sahil Lotra, Auqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh, Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar.

With key names missing and several returns to the fold, the camp is expected to offer clearer signals about Jammu and Kashmir’s preferred combination as they enter the business end of the Ranji Trophy season.