NEW DELHI: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has officially addressed the controversy surrounding Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from India’s upcoming white-ball tour against Australia. Agarkar clarified the board’s position on Shami’s fitness and his recent remarks about participating in Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal.
Shami, a key bowler who was India’s joint highest wicket-taker in the last Champions Trophy alongside Varun Chakravarthy, has been battling ankle and knee injuries, which necessitated surgery after the 2023 World Cup. The fast bowler had previously expressed his frustration over the selection decision, arguing that his performance in the Ranji Trophy should have demonstrated his fitness and that it wasn’t his duty to update the selection committee.
Responding to Shami’s comments, Agarkar stated, “If he says that to me directly, I will probably answer that. If he were here, I would address it. I’m not entirely sure what he said on social media, but if I were to read it, I might give him a call. My phone is always open for most players, and I’ve had multiple conversations with him over the past few months, but I don’t want to create headlines here.”
Agarkar elaborated further on the situation: “Mohammed Shami has been an incredible performer for India. If he voiced his thoughts, then perhaps that’s a conversation for him to have with me, or for me to have with him. Even before the England tour, we made it clear that if he was fit, he would have been on that flight. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Our domestic season has just begun, so we will be monitoring his fitness. We’ll see how he progresses over a couple more Ranji games. If he’s bowling well, there’s no reason why we wouldn’t want a player of Shami’s caliber.
“However, what we’ve observed over the last six to eight months, even during the Australia tour, is that we were keen to have him, but his fitness wasn’t where it needed to be. If he maintains his fitness over the coming months, the situation could change. But as of now, to my knowledge, he wasn’t fit enough for that England tour.”
India’s upcoming tour of Australia kicks off on October 19, featuring three ODIs and a five-match T20I series. This tour will also mark the highly anticipated return of star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to international cricket, their first appearance since the 2025 Champions Trophy final in March.