New Delhi: Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has strongly criticised the Ajit Agarkar led selection committee for ignoring Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi despite his outstanding performances in domestic cricket.
Nabi, who finished as the highest wicket taker in the latest Ranji Trophy season with 60 wickets, was left out of India’s squad for the one off Test against Afghanistan. The omission has sparked debate over the importance being given to domestic cricket performances in national team selections.
Vengsarkar questioned the logic behind the selectors’ decision and described the snub as unfair. He argued that if consistent Ranji Trophy performances are not considered seriously, then domestic cricket risks losing its relevance.
The former India skipper pointed out that Nabi had delivered impressive performances over consecutive seasons, including 44 wickets in the previous Ranji campaign at a remarkable average. He stressed that wicket taking ability should remain the most important factor while evaluating bowlers rather than focusing only on pace or other attributes.
India’s bowling unit for the Afghanistan Test includes names such as Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar.
Former India all rounder Irfan Pathan also questioned the selection call and urged authorities not to discourage strong Ranji Trophy performances.
Sources close to the selection process defended the decision, saying selectors consider multiple factors beyond statistics alone. According to reports, Gurnoor Brar’s performances for India A and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy were viewed favourably by the panel.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had stated during a press conference that Nabi’s performances were discussed but the selectors eventually opted for other bowling options.
The controversy has once again triggered wider discussions over the transparency and consistency of India’s selection process, especially regarding opportunities for players excelling in domestic cricket.
