India’s Test series-the Border-Gavaskar Trophy-is approaching its end near a country, with three Tests already played, and quite evidently, they miss their star pacer Mohammad Shami. The right-arm quick has claimed 32 wickets in Tests Down Under but is active in domestic white-ball tournaments without getting clearance from BCCI COE (previously known as National Cricket Academy), Bengaluru.
He was last seen playing for the country in November 2023, after which he got injured and remained out with an ankle problem. While rehabilitating, he also had a slight bother with his knee, which has delayed his arrival to Team India. Reports said that he would join the Indian camp in Australia before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, starting December 26. However, despite that, it is still not clear whether he would play in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
This was the subject of media attention, as Indian captain Rohit Sharma addressed the issue in a post-match presser on Wednesday: “Team management very much in Australia has been awaiting word from the medical team at the BCCI COE.”
“I think it’s high time somebody from NCA talked about him. That’s our national cricket academy where he is rehabilitating. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update,” said Rohit at the Gabba.
“But look, I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. The last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens,” he added.
Further, Rohit said that the team would not risk anyway until they have clearance, hinting that the doors would always remain open for Shami.
“There’s no way we would want to take that risk unless we are made sure, not a hundred percent, two hundred thousand percent, and then we won’t take any risk. But yeah, like I said in the last press meet, the door is open. If those guys at the NCA feel that he’s okay to go and recover and play, I will be happy to have him,” he added behind a puff of air.
After playing a Ranji Trophy match and nine games in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, the 34-year-old has been included in Bengal’s squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.During the current domestic season, Shami has played for Bengal.
