India pacer Auqib Nabi has signed a short-term deal with Surrey County Cricket Club for three County Championship Division One matches, starting next week.
Auqib was called up to India’s Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka earlier this month after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out, having failed to receive fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence.
As India opted to play only two pacers across the two Tests, Auqib could not find a place in the playing XI in either match. Gurnoor Brar, who also failed to break into the XI, was ahead of him in the pecking order.
India won the series 1-0, with the second Test at the SSC going into the final day and final session on August 27. Players such as Gurnoor and Saransh Jain were asked to report to their respective teams for the Duleep Trophy. However, the selectors had different plans for Auqib. The BCCI was exploring a county deal for the pacer to give him exposure to the seaming conditions in the UK, which will be similar to those in New Zealand, where India will play their next Test series.
Although he is yet to play a Test, the selectors appear keen to keep their back-up options ready, given the recent fitness struggles among India’s fast bowlers. Auqib is therefore set for his first county stint after taking a bagful of wickets with the SG ball in Indian conditions.
Once his county commitments are completed, Nabi is likely to join India A for two home red-ball matches against Australia A in Puducherry, with the first match set to begin on September 22.
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