Chief selector of India’s men’s cricket team, Ajit Agarkar. File
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector of India’s men’s cricket team, has stated that Mohammed Shami was not considered for the Afghanistan series because the veteran pacer is only available for T20 cricket for now. Agarkar also mentioned that Auqib Nabi came very close to his maiden Test call-up.
“As far as we have been told, at this point, his body is allowing him to [play only the shortest format]. I know he has played the domestic season this year. But the information I have is that, at this point, T20 cricket is what he is ready for. So, there was no discussion regarding Shami’s selection,” Agarkar said after the announcement of India’s squad for the lone Test and three ODI series against Afghanistan at home.
Shami, a veteran of 197 international caps across formats, last featured in India colours during the Champions Trophy final in March 2025.
With Harshit Rana and Akash Deep injured and the selectors deciding to rest Jasprit Bumrah, Auqib Nabi – the Jammu & Kashmir medium-pacer who was one of the stars of the Ranji Trophy season – was expected to earn a maiden call-up to the Test squad. However, the selectors went for Gurnoor Brar as the back-up pacer behind Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
“There is always a chat around someone who has done well the last couple of seasons. You do not necessarily pick a lot of seamers when you pick a Test team in India. And he was close,” Agarkar said.
“But at this point, we have gone with the three that we have picked. But there was certainly a chat around Nabi. There is no doubt. He has had some incredible performances for Jammu & Kashmir.”
Nabi – with a combined tally of 104 wickets in the last two Ranji campaigns, including a whopping 60 wickets last season – will have to wait for his chance.
Published – May 19, 2026 07:01 pm IST
