Shami has very little time now left in the entire week to prove his worth to the selectors for the final selection into the Border-Gavaskar tournament, says an update. According to the source, Shami has however recently recovered and returned back to the competitive form after suffering for a long time from injury, and the medical team of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now closely monitoring him. After a great show in his first Ranji Trophy match back for Bengal, Shami will have a few Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 matches for evaluation. Reportedly, losing weight and regaining fitness has also been a big requirement for Shami now.
“What one ought to see is when he can spare the BCCI’s medical team, which treats him after every spell he bowls,” the BCCI source told The Times of India on November 22.
“The medical team feels that he will lose weight while he continues to play matches, which will build up his endurance. Since the Ranji Trophy leg is over, the first round of SMAT matches have been kept as an ad-hoc yardstick,” the source added.
As reported, Shami’s training and recovery regimen by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is entrusted to Nitin Patel, head of sports science at BCCI, along with his National Cricket Academy, NCA trainer Nishant Bordoloi while Shami spends time with the Bengal team.
Going by the report, Shami’s SMAT matches commenced from November 23, where according to that report, he would have had 10 days to prove his fitness.
“The report also states that Shami can be allowed to recover and will not be pushed towards cricket in view of the Champions Trophy of ICC scheduled in February.”
“Well, one never bats in SMAT by bowling two-over spells in a T20 match,” said the source. “There is a much higher degree of intensity maintenance for a high-profile Test series. Sure, he will train with Team India if he clears the SMAT condition, but playing him will be a good call according to sources. Selectors are quite wary about the February edition of the Champions Trophy.”
Shami looks set to figure from the third Test commencing December 14 if his recovery goes precisely by the plan.
India could afford to carry that loss when Shami missed the first Test at Perth, where Jasprit Bumrah, the acting captain and pace spearhead, collected eight wickets, Mohammed Siraj garnered five while rookie Harshit Rana picked four, and India won by 295 runs.
