Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a Test and 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan on May 19 Indian team announced The Test squad includes uncapped players like Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar. But Aqib Nabi, who performed brilliantly in the Ranji Trophy, was left out of the team, which former Team India captain Dilip Bangsarkar expressed his displeasure over.
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Aqib Nabi, playing domestic cricket for Jammu and Kashmir, took 60 wickets in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy. He was the highest wicket-taker in that season. Ranji TrophyJammu and Kashmir made history by becoming champions. This performance seemed to confirm his place in Team India for the Tests. But in reality it did not happen.
What did Dilip Bengsarkar say?
In a press release, Dilip Bengsarkar said of Aqib Nabi, “It is completely unreasonable and beyond comprehension for the electors to ignore him. What kind of party election is this? It is not acceptable. It is injustice.”
He added, “Can you imagine Akib’s plight? He took 60 wickets in Ranji. He worked hard, so he deserved a place in the national team before anyone else. If performance in domestic cricket doesn’t matter, BCCI should stop it.”
It is not speed, but the ability to take wickets that matters
Talking about Aqib’s pace, Dilip Bengsarkar added, “You judge a bowler by his ability to take wickets, not if he bowls at 130 kmph. What matters is his ability to take wickets. Aqib has shown great consistency in taking wickets. It was the right time to prepare him. When a player is in form, you give him a chance. You don’t wait for him to lose confidence, lose fitness or lose his appetite.”
