No Mohammed Shami and Aqib Nabi in BCCI shortlist of five fast bowlers for New Zealand Tests | Cricket news
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India will face New Zealand in a two-match Test series in November. Both Tests will be essential for India if they are to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the WTC final.
Aqib Nabi and Mohammed Shami are not in the team management’s plans for the New Zealand Tests. (Image Credit: PTI)
The Indian men’s cricket team will travel to New Zealand later this year to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests from October 22 to December 1. The two-match Test series against the Black Caps will be crucial for India as they look to finish in the top two in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table and qualify for the 2027 WTC final at The Oval.
With the much-awaited Test series in New Zealand just around the corner, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has begun its preparations. According to a report in Dainik Jagran On Wednesday (September 2), the Indian team management shortlisted five fast bowlers for the overseas series.
However, once again there is no room for fast bowler Mohammed Shami. Shami, who has been responsible for dismissing 229 batsmen in 64 Tests for India, has taken 15 wickets in four Tests played so far in New Zealand. Despite his experience and track record, he is said to not be part of the team’s management plans.
In addition to Shami, Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aqib Nabi Dar has also been left out of the list. Nabi, who finished top-ranked in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, earned his maiden Test call-up for India for the Test series against Sri Lanka last month but did not get a chance to play a single match.
Instead, it was reported that the team management has shortlisted Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnor Brar and Akash Deb for the New Zealand series.
However, Bumrah and Akash Deb are currently out of action due to injuries, while Brar is yet to make his Test debut for India. However, the youngster has impressed with his performances for the India A team and in domestic cricket.
BCCI officials will meet the Indian team management in Mumbai on Thursday. During the meeting, the board is expected to seek updates on the shortlisted players’ fitness, availability and potential roles in the series.
As conditions in New Zealand tend to favor fast bowlers more than spinners, the team management is keen to bolster India’s pace attack in the two-Test series.
India last toured New Zealand for a Test series in 2020 and suffered defeats in both matches under Virat Kohli. In the most recent Test series between the two teams, New Zealand registered a 3-0 win in India.
Quick answers
Ask the news18It is highly unlikely that Mohammed Shami will play in the future Test series, as the national selectors appear ready to move on from the veteran. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has reportedly indicated that Shami is not part of the team’s future plans and his fitness currently only allows him to play T20 cricket. The selection committee is instead focusing on moving on to younger fast bowlers to prepare for the next World Test Championship cycle.
Ask the news18About the author
Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist at CNN-News18, where he has been covering cricket, football and major sporting events from around the world since July 1, 2024. Driven by his passion for storytelling…Read more
02 Sep 2026 at 4:09 PM IST
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