Irfan Pathan Questions Auqib Nabi's Exclusion From India's Sri Lanka Test Squad

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has questioned the selection committee's decision to leave out Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi from India's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced a 15-member squad for the August series, with veteran Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Saransh Jain earning his maiden Test call-up. While Jain's inclusion was widely welcomed, Nabi's omission has sparked debate given his outstanding domestic performances over the past season.

Auqib Nabi enjoyed a remarkable Ranji Trophy campaign, claiming 60 wickets and playing a key role in helping Jammu and Kashmir secure their maiden Ranji Trophy title. His performances also earned him a contract with Delhi Capitals for the 2026 Indian Premier League season. More recently, Nabi represented India A on their tour of Sri Lanka, where he picked up six wickets across two four-day matches, further strengthening his case for a place in the senior national side.

Despite those performances, Nabi failed to make the final Test squad, prompting criticism from Pathan, who has closely followed the pacer's development. Speaking to Sportstar, the former India cricketer said he could not find any logical explanation for the selectors' decision. "I honestly don't have any logical answer for Nabi not being picked. I didn't understand the selection process," Pathan said, expressing disappointment that consistent domestic performances had not been rewarded.

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Pathan also questioned the broader selection strategy, referring to India's earlier Test against Afghanistan. He argued that senior pacer Mohammed Siraj is already the team's lead fast bowler in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and suggested that the Afghanistan Test, which was not part of the World Test Championship, would have been an ideal opportunity to assess Nabi at the international level. According to Pathan, overlooking the fast bowler despite such opportunities sends mixed signals to players performing consistently in domestic cricket.

While praising the selectors for rewarding Saransh Jain's sustained domestic excellence, Pathan maintained that the same principle should have applied to Nabi. He noted that Jain's maiden Test call-up after several years of strong performances demonstrated that domestic cricket is valued, but questioned why the same recognition was not extended to a fast bowler who had also consistently delivered. Pathan added that pace bowlers are particularly valuable because injuries often create opportunities for quality backups in the national team.

India's squad for the Sri Lanka series will now begin preparations for the two-Test assignment in August, with Saransh Jain set to look for his international debut. Meanwhile, the omission of Auqib Nabi has become one of the major talking points following the squad announcement, with former players and cricket followers continuing to debate the criteria used by the selectors in balancing domestic performances with the team's long-term plans.

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