Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan was surprised when fast bowler Auqib Nabi was once again overlooked for India’s selection for the Sri Lanka tour despite performing excellently for Jammu and Kashmir in the last few domestic seasons.
Nabi has been in great form in the last two domestic seasons. The fast bowler impressed everyone in the Ranji Trophy, earned an IPL contract, performed well for India A, but still missed out on his first India Test call-up for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
Despite excellent form, Auqib Nabi’s India dream gets delayed once again
Auqib Nabi had taken 60 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy and played an important role in helping Jammu and Kashmir win the Ranji Trophy title for the first time. His performances earned him an IPL contract with Delhi Capitals and a place in the India A team for the tour of Sri Lanka.
The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler continued his form in Sri Lanka by taking six wickets in two four-day matches for India A. Despite performing in Sri Lankan conditions, the Indian selectors once again overlooked the experienced fast bowler for next year’s two-match Test series.
Irfan Pathan is surprised by Nabi not getting a place in India’s Test team once again
After the announcement of the Test team, Irfan Pathan admitted that he is unable to understand the logic behind continuously ignoring in-form Auqib Nabi. He believed that the selectors should have given Nabi a chance to debut during India’s only Test against Afghanistan, but despite that only Test not being a part of the ICC World Test Championship, he gave it to Mohammad Siraj.
Sportstar quoted Irfan Pathan as saying, “To be honest, I don’t have any logical answer for Nabi not being selected. I didn’t understand the selection process. If domestic performance matters, why didn’t you reward Auqib? This was the best opportunity to play him and test him at that level. His performance deserved a reward.”
Irfan Pathan compares Saransh Jain’s selection with Oqib Nabi’s neglect
The cricket pundit further said that domestic performance should be rewarded. He praised Saransh Jain for making his debut for India through domestic performances, but questioned why Nabi was not given the same reward despite his consistent performances.
Pathan said, “What signal are we giving to the domestic cricketers? It is great for Saransh Jain to be selected on the basis of domestic performance. It tells the domestic cricketers that the performance will be rewarded. He is 33 years old and he has been rewarded for four or five years of consistent performance.”
But then, what is Auqib’s fault? He has also performed well consistently, and has even more opportunities as a fast bowler because fast bowlers often get injured, so backup always helps…” Meanwhile, AB de Villiers questioned Rishabh Pant’s Test selection.
Irfan Pathan says India is wasting Auqib Nabi’s best years
He told that Nabi is continuously troubling the top batsmen including KL Rahul. The former World Cup winner also said that speed should not be the only factor while selecting fast bowlers.
Pathan said Nabi bowls at around 133-135 km/h, has got late swing and can also contribute with the bat lower down the order, so it is strange that the selectors are ignoring him.
Pathan criticized the selectors for wasting Auqib Nabi’s peak, saying fast bowlers usually play their best cricket between the ages of 27 and 32 and Nabi will turn 30 in November.
He signed off by saying, “The more you delay a fast bowler’s peak, the more you lose to him. Fast bowlers are at their peak between 27 and 32. You don’t want to miss that window, especially when someone is in form. I’m still trying to find the logic behind this decision.”