NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami recently joined Bengal’s practice session at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, ahead of their Ranji Trophy opener against Uttarakhand. His appearance comes amidst his exclusion from India’s upcoming white-ball series in Australia, a decision that has drawn considerable attention.
Shami, who was the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 ICC World Cup, directly addressed ongoing fitness concerns, emphasizing that the ultimate selection decision rests with the selectors.
His last international outing for India was during the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai in February-March, where India clinched the victory. In that tournament, Shami notably shared the highest wicket-taker title with Varun Chakravarthy, both securing nine wickets each.
“I have said this before… Selection is not in my hands. If there is a fitness issue, I shouldn’t be here playing for Bengal,” Shami told the media emphatically.
He continued, “I think I do not need to speak on this and create a controversy. If I can play four-dayers (Ranji Trophy), I can also play 50-overs cricket,” a clear statement regarding his omission from the highly anticipated Australia tour.
When pressed further on updates regarding his fitness, Shami clarified his position: “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 go to the NCA (Centre of Excellence), prepare and play matches. Woh unki baat hai unko kaun update deta hai, kisne nahin diya. It’s not my responsibility,” he stated, referring to the National Cricket Academy’s (NCA) role in issuing fitness certificates.
These remarks were a direct response to comments made by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who had previously mentioned a lack of updates on Shami’s fitness following the announcement of the Australian squad.
A 15-member Indian squad, featuring key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has already assembled in Delhi for the tour. The series includes three ODIs and three T20Is, with Shubman Gill stepping in as captain. Interestingly, Kohli, who currently resides in London, has returned to India to join the team.
Shami’s impressive career statistics include 229 Test wickets and 206 ODI wickets. He has not participated in Test cricket since the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s. While his absence was noticeable during India’s struggles in the 2024-25 Australia tour, he has faced persistent challenges in securing a regular spot across all formats since his return from a significant injury layoff.