Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar slammed the BCCI and Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee over the snub of seamer Auqib Nabi from Afghanistan series. Vengsarkar expressed his frustration over the omission of Jammu and Kashmir bowler from India’s squad in the one-off Test against Afghanistan next month despite his brilliant campaign in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. The former cricketer labelled Nabi’s snub as ‘absurd’ and ‘baffling’ while calling it injustice towards the bowler.
“The selectors’ decision to ignore him is absolutely absurd and baffling. What kind of selection is this? It is just not acceptable. It is injustice. Can you imagine Nabi’s plight right now? He took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. He has worked hard for it and deserves a place ahead of everybody else," Vengsarkar said in a conversation with The Times of India.
Not only this, but he also opined that if the selectors don’t consider domestic campaigns as the criteria, they must scrap it. “If domestic cricket performances are not a criterion, then the BCCI should scrap domestic cricket,” he added. “You pick a bowler for his ability to get wickets. He may bowl at 130 kmph, but the important thing is his wicket-taking ability. This kid has shown tremendous consistency in getting wickets," the former skipper went on to say.
This was the ideal time to groom him: Dilip Vengsarkar on Aquib Nabi
The 70-year-old went on to say that since the selectors have decided to rest Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah from the squads, it was the right time for them to groom Nabi. “This was the ideal time to groom him. When a player is in form, you give him the opportunity then and there. You don’t wait until he loses confidence, fitness or hunger," Vengsarkar opined.
Notably, Nabi was the leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 where he picked 60 wickets in 10 games. He was named the Player of the Tournament for his performance and guiding the side to their maiden Ranji Trophy title. He maintained a staggering average of 12.56 and recorded stunning figures of 5-54 in the first innings of the final against Karnataka.
In the semifinal against Bengal, he recorded figures of 9-123 and 12-110 in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh in Indore. Moreover, the 29-year-old recorded seven five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls.
