Former India chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has strongly criticised the national selectors for not including Auqib Nabi in the squad for the Test against Afghanistan, calling the decision baffling and unjust.
A title-winning season
Nabi was central to Jammu & Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy triumph, finishing the season with 60 wickets. Vengsarkar said he was shocked that such a campaign had not earned the fast bowler a place, and told The Times of India that if domestic performances carry no weight, the Ranji Trophy loses its purpose. In his view, Nabi has worked extremely hard and deserved a chance ahead of several others.
Pace is not the point
The former selector also played down any concern about Nabi’s speed. A bowler, he argued, should be picked for his ability to take wickets, and whether he operates at 130 kmph or quicker is a secondary matter. Vengsarkar felt the Afghanistan Test would have been an ideal occasion for India to try out an in-form seamer at international level, and added that a player in rhythm should be backed immediately rather than after his confidence has dipped.
The numbers behind the argument
Nabi’s record supports the case. Over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons the 29-year-old has taken 104 wickets for Jammu & Kashmir. In total he has 156 wickets from 41 First-Class matches at an average of 18.37.
The selectors instead picked a Punjab seamer, Brar, as the new pace option. Brar has also done well in domestic cricket, with 52 wickets from 18 First-Class games, and is regarded as a promising talent for the future.
