India Excludes Shami and Nabi From Test Squad for New Zealand Tour

Pacers Mohammed Shami and Auqib Nabi are reportedly excluded from the BCCI selection committee's shortlist for India's upcoming two-match Test tour of New Zealand, which begins in November. This decision impacts the team's crucial campaign to reach the World Test Championship final. The selectors have instead shortlisted five other pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, and Akash Deep, according to a report. Shami's omission comes despite his recent five-wicket haul for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-finals, while the tour is considered a must-win for the Shubman Gill-led side. The squad selection will be a key topic at a BCCI review meeting on Thursday, attended by officials including chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The Test series begins in Wellington on November 19, following a white-ball tour starting October 22.