“Tremendous injustice”: Sanjay Manjrekar fumes over Auqib Nabi’s snub despite st – Sanjay Manjrekar Slams BCCI Over Auqib Nabi’s India Test Snub

A Baffling Exclusion in Indian Cricket

The announcement of India’s squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan has sparked intense debate across the cricketing fraternity. Among the most vocal critics is former India international Sanjay Manjrekar, who did not hold back in expressing his anger over the omission of Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi. Calling the decision “ridiculous” and a “tremendous injustice,” Manjrekar questioned the relevance of India’s premier domestic tournament if outstanding red-ball performances continue to be overlooked by the national selectors.

The one-off Test is scheduled to begin on June 6 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. While the squad features several changes and fresh faces, Nabi’s complete absence—even from the shadow India A squads—has left experts and fans alike questioning the criteria used for national selection.

Auqib Nabi: The Uncrowned King of the Ranji Trophy

Auqib Nabi’s omission is particularly striking when looking at his extraordinary exploits in domestic cricket over the last two years. In the latest edition of the Ranji Trophy, Nabi finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, playing a monumental role in guiding Jammu & Kashmir to their historic maiden title. During this triumphant campaign, the right-arm pacer bagged 60 wickets in 10 matches at an astonishing bowling average of 12.56, which included seven five-wicket hauls. He was also one of only two bowlers to register multiple ten-wicket match hauls in the tournament.

This was not a one-season wonder. In the preceding Ranji Trophy edition, Nabi was instrumental in J&K’s run to the quarterfinals, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in the entire competition with 44 wickets at an average of 13.93 in eight matches. Collectively, across the last two domestic seasons, Auqib Nabi has amassed 104 wickets in just 18 matches at an exceptional average of 13.14, alongside 13 five-wicket hauls. Despite these staggering numbers, the fast bowler remains completely ignored by the selection committee.

Sanjay Manjrekar Voices Strong Criticism

Speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast, Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his sheer disbelief at how a bowler with such credentials could be overlooked, especially when established frontline seamers are being rested. Manjrekar argued that snubbing Nabi sends a damaging message to domestic players and undermines the prestige of the Ranji Trophy itself.

“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 further emphasized that Nabi’s omission becomes even more illogical given the absence of veteran pacers from the squad. “It’s actually ridiculous. 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 former batsman added.

Squad Rotations and the Venue in Focus

The squad named for the Afghanistan Test features significant structural updates. With Mohammed Shami rested due to workload management and injury concerns, and Ravindra Jadeja also given a break, selectors handed maiden call-ups to left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, alongside Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar. Additionally, Rishabh Pant has been relieved of his vice-captaincy duties, with the responsibility handed over to KL Rahul.

The clash will mark only the second-ever Men’s International fixture to be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. The venue previously hosted a T20I between India and South Africa in December 2025, and two Women’s ODIs between India and Australia earlier that same year in September.

Did IPL Performance Cloud Selection Judgment?

As discussions continue regarding the reasons behind Nabi’s snub, analysts speculate that his recent stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 might have negatively influenced the selectors’ decision. Representing the Delhi Capitals, Nabi endured a tough campaign, going wicketless in five matches while conceding runs at an economy rate of over 11 runs per over.

However, purists argue that using brief white-ball performances in the IPL to assess a bowler’s readiness for the grueling demands of five-day red-ball cricket is a flawed methodology. Nabi’s sustained brilliance over 18 multi-day matches in the Ranji Trophy demonstrates a level of control, endurance, and skill that T20 figures simply cannot capture. For now, the J&K speedster must wait for his opportunity, even as prominent voices like Manjrekar continue to champion his cause.