Auqib Nabi Signs for Surrey Ahead of New Zealand Tour

Auqib Nabi, a Jammu and Kashmir pacer, has reportedly signed with Surrey to compete in the present County Championship, with the agreement reached before of India’s upcoming Test series in New Zealand. Nabi was scheduled to fly out of New Delhi on Sunday, August 30, after obtaining his visa to England.

Auqib Nabi was the star bowler in the most recent Ranji Trophy season, collecting 60 wickets at an average of 12.56 and leading J&K to their first championship win. Despite being nominated to India’s squad for the home Test series against Sri Lanka, which India won 1-0, he did not play in either match.

The 2026 County Championship season lasts from April 3 until September 27, 2026. Nabi’s arrival at Surrey opens them a window of three Division One fixtures before the league concludes. Surrey’s current roster includes India leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and uncapped batting all-rounder Mahipal Lomror.

Which Surrey fixtures will Auqib Nabi be available for?

Auqib Nabi is set to make his Surrey County Championship debut against Yorkshire on September 2 at The Oval. Surrey will then travel to Hove to play Sussex on September 8, before returning to The Oval to welcome Glamorgan on September 15.

Nabi is one of numerous Indian cricketers headed to county cricket at this point in the season. Manav Suthar, a left-arm spinner who took 16 wickets in the Sri Lanka series, will return to Warwickshire, while Kuldeep Yadav will return to Yorkshire.

Another source in a prominent media report from Telangana Today also said that India seamers Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, who are now competing in the Duleep Trophy semi-final between East Zone and Central Zone at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, may play for English county cricket later.

What is Auqib Nabi schedule like after the Surrey stint?

After his county duties are completed, Auqib Nabi will join India’s ‘A’ team for two red-ball matches against Australia in Puducherry. The first of these games begins on September 22, with the second set for September 29.

The back-to-back India ‘A’ fixtures provide a schedule clash for J&K. The Irani Cup match between J&K and Rest of India in Srinagar spans from October 1 to 5, and with the second Puducherry game beginning just days before, Nabi’s availability for his state team is doubtful.