India pacer Auqib Nabi will make his County Championship debut for Surrey during their Division One fixture against Yorkshire at The Oval on Wednesday. Nabi was included in the playing XI alongside compatriots Mahipal Lomror and KL Rahul, marking the first known instance of three Indians representing the same county side in a first-class match. Nabi, who joined the 23-time champions two days ahead of the clash, was named in Surrey’s playing XI by captain Rory Burns.
” Surrey signed Nabi for three County Championship matches and will also feature for them against Sussex and Glamorgan in Hove and The Oval on September 8 and 15, respectively.
I’m looking forward to learning from the group and helping them for the next three matches. “With the exceptionally challenging schedule of six games in six weeks, with minimal recovery between matches along with international fixtures, we’ve had to add options to our bowling stocks for the County Championship run-in.
“The main purpose of this stint is also for the Indian team management and selectors to check if Nabi can swing the ball well there in England, as the climate in New Zealand for the Test series will need for him to do that in conducive conditions with the red Kookaburra ball in hand,” a source familiar with the development had told IANS on Sunday. On this short-term association, Auqib Nabi said: “It’s an honour to join Surrey, one of the best Clubs in England. We look forward to welcoming Auqib to the group this week,” Alec Stewart, Director of Surrey men’s cricket, said.
