Pacers Mohammed Shami and Aqib Nabi are reportedly not in the consideration of the BCCI selection committee for the upcoming Test tour of New Zealand, scheduled to begin on November 15. The Indian team will travel to New Zealand in late October to play five T20Is and as many ODIs, followed by two Tests, all in just over a month. The series will be crucial to India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year, with every match now a must-win for the Shubman Gill-led side.
Considering the green peaks and seamer-friendly conditions in New Zealand, the BCCI selectors have shortlisted five players for the two-match Test series.
According to a report in Dainik JagranLevantine and Jammu and Kashmir veteran Aqib is not part of the five-man shortlist, which includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnor Brar and Akash Deb.
Shami continues to be sidelined by the selectors despite consistent performances in the domestic circuit for Bengal. He recently took five wickets in the semi-final of the Duleep Trophy Eastern Province tournament, helping them reach the final.
New Zealand’s upcoming tour will be a major topic of discussion during the high-level review meeting on Thursday at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas, secretary Devajit Saikia, chief selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir are expected to attend the meeting.
VVS Laxman, Head of BCCI Center of Excellence, along with India captain Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, may also join the meeting.
India’s white-ball tour of New Zealand, which includes five T20Is and five ODIs, begins on October 22 and continues until November 15. The Test series will then begin with the opener in Wellington from November 19-23, followed by the second Test in Christchurch from November 27-December 1.
(with ANI inputs)
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