Seamers Auqib, Prince among 6 picked as net bowlers ahead of Afghanistan Test

Auqib Nabi (Pic: PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir paceman Auqib Nabi Dar has been drafted by team management alongside five other players to serve as net bowlers ahead of the upcoming solitary Test against Afghanistan, scheduled to begin on June 6.

In addition to Auqib, Uttar Pradesh's slender leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, who represents Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, has been brought into the camp to help the batting lineup prepare for Afghanistan's wrist-spin options. The remaining domestic bowlers drafted in for the training sessions include left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar, left-arm speedster Gurjapneet Singh, breakout IPL star Prince Yadav, and off-spinner Saransh Jain.

"Gurjapneet Singh, Auqib Nabi, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari and Shivang Kumar have joined the Indian squad as net bowlers to assist the team in the build-up to the Test," a BCCI release stated.

Auqib, who topped the domestic bowling charts with 60 wickets while leading Jammu and Kashmir to a historic Ranji Trophy title, was narrowly beaten to a squad spot by Punjab's tall fast bowler Gurnoor Brar. His omission drew criticism from prominent cricket personalities, including former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, who questioned whether domestic achievements were being properly valued.

While Auqib remains a standby option and has not been added to the main 15-member roster, he will be heavily involved in the training camp. India's opening practice session is set for Tuesday afternoon, though players who recently participated in the IPL final are expected to take a temporary break from day-one training.

A BCCI source told PTI that Nabi and other net bowlers have been added to ease the pressure on Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who played in the IPL final on May 31.

Gujarat Titans players given extra rest to prepare for Afghanistan Test

With Siraj, Krishna, and Brar forming the core pace attack in the 15-man squad, Auqib would only be drafted into the official team if one of the primary fast bowlers encounters a fitness issue.

Notably, seven members of the current Test squad, including captain Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar, and Washington Sundar, featured heavily for the Gujarat Titans and will be given adequate recovery time before the international fixture begins.

(With PTI inputs)