Aaqib Nabi Joins Indian Team as Net Bowler for Test Against Afghanistan

New Delhi, June 2: Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aaqib Nabi has been called up as a net bowler for the Indian team ahead of their solitary Test against Afghanistan. The match is scheduled to take place from June 6 to June 10 in New Chandigarh.

The 29-year-old Nabi was one of the standout performers in the Ranji Trophy season, taking 60 wickets and playing a crucial role in Jammu and Kashmir’s success. There was anticipation that he would be selected for the Test squad against Afghanistan. However, the selectors opted for Gurnoor Barar, a tall fast bowler from Punjab, as a backup option alongside Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

Aaqib Nabi has claimed 156 wickets at an impressive average of 18.37 in 41 first-class matches. In List A cricket, he has taken 56 wickets in 36 matches, and in T20s, he has secured 43 wickets in 39 games.

Sources indicate that this right-arm fast bowler has been brought in to assist the Indian team in their preparations for the Test match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.

During the announcement of the Indian team for the Afghanistan series, chief selector Ajit Agarkar commented on Nabi’s exclusion, stating, “There is always discussion regarding performances in domestic cricket. When selecting the Test team for India, it is not necessary to choose too many fast bowlers. He was very close to making the team, but at this time, we opted for the three bowlers we had already selected.”

In addition to Gurnoor Barar, left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and left-arm spinning all-rounder Harsh Dubey have also received their first call-ups for this Test match.

Shubman Gill will lead the team, while KL Rahul has been appointed as vice-captain in place of Rishabh Pant. Following impressive performances in domestic cricket, Barar, Suthar, and Dubey have been regular members of the India ‘A’ team.

Alongside Gill, Rahul, and Pant, the batting lineup includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel. Ravindra Jadeja has been rested for this Test, leaving Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar to handle the spin bowling duties.

The two teams have faced each other in only one Test match to date, which took place in 2018, where India won by an innings and 262 runs.