Our Bureau
London
India pacer Auqib Nabi is set to make his County Championship debut for Surrey against Yorkshire at The Oval on Wednesday, in a landmark first for the competition as three Indian players are named in the same county playing XI.
Nabi, who joined the 23-time county champions just two days before the fixture, was selected by Surrey captain Rory Burns alongside India teammates KL Rahul and Mahipal Lomror. The combination marks the first known instance of three Indian players representing the same county side in a first-class match.
The Jammu and Kashmir pacer has signed a short-term deal covering three County Championship matches. Following the Yorkshire fixture, he is scheduled to feature against Sussex in Hove on September 8 and Glamorgan at The Oval on September 15.
The stint is also expected to provide an important opportunity for Indian team management and selectors to assess Nabi’s ability to generate swing in English conditions with the red Kookaburra ball. He is expected to return to India in time for India A’s matches against Australia A, beginning September 22.
Nabi’s Surrey move comes after he received his maiden India call-up as a replacement for injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah during the recent Test series against Sri Lanka. Although he did not feature in either Test, his rapid rise has continued following impressive domestic performances.
For Nabi, the county stint offers both valuable overseas experience and a chance to strengthen his case for a longer-term role in India’s Test plans.