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Umran Malik Dropped from Jammu & Kashmir Ranji Trophy Prep Camp

Fast bowler Umran Malik, an India international, has been excluded from the Jammu and Kashmir squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy preparatory camp in Pondicherry. Opener Qamran Iqbal, who scored a century in a famous win over Delhi, has also been omitted from the selection. The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has named a 15-member squad including returning players like Umar Nazir and Shubham Pundir for the camp ahead of their second-phase matches. The team, currently second in Elite Group D, will begin their campaign against Pondicherry on January 22.

Key Points: Umran Malik Omitted from J&K Ranji Trophy Squad

  • Umran Malik omitted from squad
  • Qamran Iqbal also left out
  • Preparatory camp in Pondicherry
  • J&K second in Elite Group D
2 min read

Umran Malik omitted from Jammu and Kashmir squad for Ranji Trophy preparatory camp

India pacer Umran Malik left out of Jammu & Kashmir's Ranji Trophy preparatory camp squad. Details on squad changes and upcoming fixtures.

"To prepare the J&K Team for the tournament & acclimatise the team, the Management has decided to send its team to Pondicherry. - JKCA"

New Delhi, Jan 10

Pacer Umran Malik has been left out of Jammu and Kashmir's squad for the Ranji Trophy preparatory camp, set to happen in Pondicherry. Malik, who has played ten ODIs and eight T20Is for India, was in the squad for the first half of the Ranji Trophy, but played only one game against Rajasthan in Srinagar and went wicketless.

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Malik played five matches and took six wickets, but was omitted from the squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Opener Qamran Iqbal, who hit a century in Jammu and Kashmir's memorable Ranji Trophy win over Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, has also been omitted.

The JKCA has included Dikshant Kundal and Kawalpreet Singh, while Umar Nazir and Shubham Pundir also return to the squad. Jammu and Kashmir will begin their Ranji Trophy phase two campaign against Pondicherry at the Sichem Stadium from January 22-25. Head coach Ajay Sharma will join the team on January 17.

It is followed by a clash against Himachal Pradesh from January 29 to February 1 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium in Nadaun. The Ranji Trophy knockout matches are slated to be played from February 6-28. Jammu and Kashmir are currently at second place in Elite Group D after table-toppers Mumbai with 20 points from five games.

"To prepare the J&K Team for the tournament & acclimatise the team, the Management has decided to send its team to Pondicherry. The players and Members of Support staff of the team will travel directly to Chennai under the arrangements of JKCA on 16th January, 2026 from their respective locations.

"The team will then travel in the Bus from Chennai to Pondicherry arranged by the Cricket Association of Pondicherry. No individual movement from Chennai to Pondicherry is allowed," further said the JKCA.

Jammu and Kashmir squad for Ranji Trophy preparatory camp: Shubam Khajuria, Dikshant Kundal, Yawar Hassan, Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Shubham Pundir, Kanhaiya Wadhwan, Kawalpreet Singh, Abid Mushtaq, Vanshaj Sharma, Sahil Lotra, Auqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh, Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Maybe the management is looking at his recent performances? He went wicketless in his only Ranji game and his white-ball stats weren't outstanding either. Sometimes a break or working on specific skills away from the spotlight is what a player needs. Trust the process.
R
Rohit P
Omission of Qamran Iqbal is even more shocking! The guy scored a century against Delhi in that historic win. What more does a player have to do to keep his place? JKCA's selection policy seems very confusing yaar. 🤔
S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan, I find this hard to understand. Umran brings sheer pace which can be a game-changer in red-ball cricket too. Perhaps they are managing his workload? But communication from the association would help clear the air.
V
Vikram M
Good to see some new faces like Dikshant Kundal getting a chance. We can't rely on just one or two stars. Building a strong squad depth is crucial for J&K's long-term success in domestic cricket. All the best to the team in Pondicherry!
K
Kavya N
Honestly, the "no individual movement" rule from Chennai to Pondicherry sounds very strict. I get it's for team bonding and logistics, but hope the players are comfortable with such arrangements. Focus should be on cricket, not overly rigid protocols.

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