India, June 2 -- Auqib Nabi Dar's omission from India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan sparked widespread criticism. Days later, however, the Indian team management summoned him to Mullanpur, the venue for the match starting later this week, though not as an official member of the squad.

According to a PTI report on Tuesday, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer was included in a seven-member bowling contingent that arrived at the PCA Stadium in Tira as net bowlers. The move was aimed at ensuring adequate match preparation for India's batters, with frontline quicks Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna unlikely to bowl at full intensity during training after a demanding IPL campaign and amid extreme weather conditions.

"Yes, Auqib Na...