“Tremendous injustice”: Sanjay Manjrekar fumes over Auqib Nabi’s snub despite st – Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Selectors Over Auqib Nabi’s Test Snub
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An Unfathomable Snub: Sanjay Manjrekar Questions Selection Policy
Former Indian cricketer and prominent commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee. Manjrekar labeled the decision to ignore Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan as “ridiculous” and a “tremendous disrespect” to the domestic structure.
The squad announcement, which made headlines for several notable changes and rests, left cricket pundits and fans puzzled over the exclusion of the country’s most prolific red-ball domestic bowler over the last two seasons. Despite rewriting records in the Ranji Trophy, Nabi failed to secure a spot in the main squad or even the India A setup.
The India Squad for the Historic Afghanistan Test
The BCCI recently finalized the Indian squad for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, scheduled to commence on June 6. The historic encounter will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. This match marks only the second-ever Men’s International fixture at this venue, which previously hosted a T20I between India and South Africa in December 2025, and two Women’s ODIs against Australia earlier that year in September.
Aside from Nabi’s exclusion, the squad selection featured significant leadership and structural changes. Senior wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was relieved of his vice-captaincy duties, with the responsibility handed over to KL Rahul. Furthermore, key players like all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami were rested due to workload management and nagging injury concerns. The selectors also opted to blood fresh talent, handing maiden national call-ups to left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, alongside fast bowler Gurnoor Brar.
Auqib Nabi’s Staggering Ranji Trophy Record
Auqib Nabi’s omission is particularly jarring when examining his phenomenal numbers in India’s premier first-class competition. Over the past two editions of the Ranji Trophy, the Jammu & Kashmir speedster has been nothing short of sensational, spearheading his state side to unprecedented heights, including their maiden Ranji Trophy title in the latest season.
In the most recent Ranji Trophy campaign, Nabi finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, dismantling batting lineups with clinical precision. He scalped 60 wickets in just 10 matches at an astonishing bowling average of 12.56. This remarkable run included 7 five-wicket hauls. Nabi was also one of only two bowlers to record multiple 10-wicket match hauls in the tournament.
His dominance was not a flash in the pan. In the preceding Ranji Trophy edition, where Jammu & Kashmir reached the quarterfinals, Nabi was the second-highest wicket-taker overall, claiming 44 wickets at an average of 13.93 in 8 matches. Collectively, across his last 18 Ranji Trophy appearances, Auqib Nabi has taken 104 wickets at a stellar average of 13.14, including 13 five-wicket hauls. Despite this unmatched red-ball consistency, his name was completely missing from the national selection radar.
Manjrekar Fumes: “What Is the Point of the Ranji Trophy?”
Speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast, Sanjay Manjrekar did not hold back his frustration regarding Nabi’s non-selection, asserting that such decisions severely damage the credibility of the domestic circuit.
“I used to like the olden days when tremendous injustice was done. People would come out on the streets with placards and protests,” Manjrekar remarked during the podcast. “Now the outcry is mostly on social media, but this is one non-selection that I just can’t understand.”
Manjrekar emphasized that Nabi’s exclusion becomes even more baffling given the absence of frontline pacers like Mohammed Shami. He argued that bypassing the highest wicket-taker of the premier domestic tournament sends a damaging message to players grinding it out in first-class cricket.
“It’s actually ridiculous,” Manjrekar added. “When Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are not playing, whether because they are being rested or for long-term planning, then you might as well not have the Ranji Trophy if performances like these are going to be ignored.”
The IPL Over First-Class Debate
Speculation within cricket circles suggests that Nabi’s underwhelming performance in the IPL 2026 season may have heavily influenced the selectors’ decision. Representing Delhi Capitals, the medium-pacer went wicketless in five matches, conceding runs at an economy rate of over 11. However, cricket purists argue that using T20 franchise league performances to judge a player’s capability for the grueling five-day format is fundamentally flawed.
By prioritizing short-format metrics over a monumental 104-wicket red-ball tally, the selectors face intense scrutiny. For players like Auqib Nabi, who have proven their mettle over consecutive domestic seasons, the road to the national team remains frustratingly blocked despite doing everything required on the field.
