A heated disagreement has erupted within Indian cricket, pitting veteran pacer Mohammed Shami against selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar. This ongoing dispute has sparked intense debate regarding communication, player fitness, and the overall transparency of selection decisions within the national squad.
The controversy first ignited earlier this year when Shami’s name was conspicuously absent from India’s Test squad for the West Indies series. Agarkar, in his explanation, stated that Shami had not played sufficient competitive cricket to warrant selection. The 35-year-old fast bowler had been out of action since India’s Champions Trophy final in March and was reportedly working on his match fitness at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
However, the situation quickly escalated when Shami publicly retaliated against the selection committee. In a powerful statement, he asserted that providing fitness updates to the selectors was not his responsibility. “About giving an update, it’s not my responsibility to give an update or ask for an update. It’s not my job to give updates on my fitness. My job is to attend the NCA, prepare, and play matches. Woh unki baat hai unko kaun update deta hai, kisne nahin diya (That’s their matter, who gives them updates or not). It’s not my responsibility,” Shami declared.
Agarkar later reinforced his stance, clarifying that Shami was omitted from the ODI series against Australia solely due to a lack of full fitness. Yet, Shami was quick to hit back once more, emphasizing that his performance on the field would be his ultimate retort.
“Let him say whatever he wants. You’ve seen how I bowled. It’s all in front of your eyes,” the pacer stated. He then proceeded to deliver back-to-back match-winning spells for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, proving his point decisively.
In Bengal’s opening two matches of the season, Shami showcased a masterclass in red-ball bowling, claiming an astonishing 15 wickets across both games. This included a formidable five-wicket haul against Gujarat at Eden Gardens, which secured a commanding 141-run victory. His fiery and incisive spells tore through opposition batting line-ups, serving as a timely and undeniable reminder of his immense value in the longest format of the game.
With his form, rhythm, and fitness now unequivocally restored, Mohammed Shami has indeed let his actions speak louder than any words, sending an unmistakable message to the selectors ahead of India’s upcoming Test series in South Africa.