Auqib Nabi Departs for England to Play County Cricket for Surrey

Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi has departed for England to play three County Championship matches for Surrey, a move designed to prepare him for India's upcoming Test series in New Zealand. Nabi, who earned his maiden Test call-up during the recent series in Sri Lanka but did not play, received his work visa clearance on Saturday, August 29, and left for England on the first available flight on Sunday, August 30.

The 29-year-old seamer is expected to make his Surrey debut on Wednesday, September 2, in a Division One match against Yorkshire at The Oval in London. He will then play against Sussex on September 8 and Glamorgan on September 15. The stint provides Nabi with valuable game time in conditions considered similar to what India will face in New Zealand, where a two-Test series begins on November 19 in Wellington.

Nabi was a late addition to India's squad for the Sri Lanka series as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah but was not selected for the playing eleven in either match. The team management and selectors determined that gaining experience in English county cricket would be more beneficial for his development ahead of the New Zealand tour. Nabi was...