“He Was Close, But We Went with the Three”: BCCI Selector on Auqib Nabi’s Omission | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has clarified the decision to leave out Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi from India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, following the announcement of the team.

Nabi was omitted despite an impressive Ranji Trophy season in which he claimed 60 wickets and played a key role in guiding Jammu and Kashmir to their first final. The 29-year-old right-arm seamer was not included in the red-ball squad for the match at Mullanpur.

Addressing the selection, Agarkar said Nabi was under consideration but the final decision was shaped by conditions in the subcontinent and the overall balance of the squad.

“There is always a chat around that [domestic performances]. You do not necessarily pick a lot of seamers when you pick a Test team in India. And he was close. But at this point, we have gone with the three that we have picked,” he said.

The selectors included Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj in the pace unit, while handing a maiden Test call-up to Punjab fast bowler Gurnoor Brar. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested to manage workload.

The squad has a spin-focused composition, with Kuldeep Yadav included alongside Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, in line with expected subcontinental conditions.

Shubman Gill has been named captain of the Test side, with KL Rahul appointed vice-captain, replacing Rishabh Pant.

The one-off Test against Afghanistan will be played in Mullanpur from June 6 to June 10, shortly after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League.

On the day of the squad announcement, PDP leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para described Nabi’s omission as “truly shocking”.