TimesofIndia.com in Chandigarh: The Indian team management is likely to take the final call. Muhammad SirajWorkload in the next 48 hours before Afghanistan’s only Test. If the 32-year-old player is rested, he will be replaced by Aqib Nabi.TimesofIndia.com has learned that medical staff are continuing to monitor Siraj, who has already arrived in Chandigarh, but his participation depends on his assessment over the next two days.The bowler had a long season with Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), playing every game including the final on 31 May. The Titans were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.There was talk of resting Siraj for the lone Test but the decision-makers did not want to field a completely inexperienced bowling attack. If the selectors make a late call to rest Siraj, Gurnor Brar is likely to make his debut and Nabi will be included in the squad.“Sirraj has had a long season and if he is rested, there is a bright possibility that Gurnoor will play and Nabi will come into the squad,” a source close to the development told TimesofIndia.com.Nabi, who took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and led Jammu and Kashmir to the title, joins the Indian squad as one of the six net bowlers to help the side for the Tests.Apart from Nabi, pacers Gurjapaneet Singh and Prince Yadav, and spinners Sarnish Jain, Zeeshan Ansari and Shivang Kumar have also been asked to bowl in the nets.The lone Test will be played at the New Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) International Stadium in New Chandigarh. After that, three ODIs will be played in Dharamshala, Lucknow and Chennai.
