Now Reading: Jaffer slams Agarkar, Gambhir for Auqib Nabi’s late Test call-up
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Jaffer slams Agarkar, Gambhir for Auqib Nabi’s late Test call-up
Auqib Nabi, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer, was seen bowling in the nets in Colombo ahead of India's three-day practice game against Sri Lanka XI. He received his maiden Test call-up as…
The Story in Brief
Auqib Nabi, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer, was seen bowling in the nets in Colombo ahead of India's three-day practice game against Sri Lanka XI. He received his maiden Test call-up as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah for the two-match series, becoming the first cricketer from J&K to be named in an India Test squad. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer criticised chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying Nabi deserved a spot in the original squad after his 60-wicket Ranji Trophy season that helped J&K win their maiden title.
Jaffer said on his YouTube channel: 'After performing so well, he probably should not have come in as a replacement in the first place. But better late than never.' Nabi, who has 162 first-class wickets, also played for India A and Delhi Capitals. He is likely to be the third-choice pacer behind Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in spin-friendly conditions.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Auqib Nabi was slighted by being a replacement rather than an original pick ignores the practical realities of squad selection. Bumrah's fitness was assessed only after the original squad was announced. Nabi's 60 wickets in a title-winning Ranji season are undeniable, but selectors must balance form with established backups. The real test is whether J&K's first Test call-up gets a debut in Galle. If he does, the 'late vs never' argument will be forgotten.
Sources (3): sports.ndtv.com, sports.ndtv.com (2), timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
