Senior India pacer Mohammed Shami responded sharply after being neglected by the choice committee for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable, India opted for 4 frontline fast bowlers—Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana—within the squad.
Shami had only recently made his international comeback earlier this 12 months, his first appearance for the reason that 2023 ODI World Cup. He played in the house series against England and was a part of the victorious 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, where he led the pace attack because the lone senior seamer within the XI.
Nonetheless, an underwhelming IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) raised doubts among the many selectors about his fitness and workload ahead of the England tour. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited similar concerns when questioned about Shami’s omission through the squad announcement press conference in Ahmedabad.
“I even have no update. He has played within the Duleep Trophy. But within the last two-three years, he hasn’t played a number of cricket. I feel he played one game for Bengal and one within the Duleep trophy. As a performer, we all know what he can do, but he has to play cricket,” Agarkar said (via India Today).
“Team Never Checked On My Fitness” – Shami On AUS vs IND Omission
Mohammed Shami responded by hinting that the team management never reached out to him about his fitness status.
“To get an update, you could have to ask for an update. It will not be my responsibility to know who gives updates to whom and all that. My responsibility is to go to the NCA, and for those who give me matches, I’ll play in those games. It’s upto him regarding asking for updates, that will not be my responsibility,” Shami told reporters after a rehearsal on the Eden Gardens ahead of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy opener.
He further identified that since he’s preparing to play first-class cricket for Bengal, his readiness for white-ball matches shouldn’t be in query.
“Memes were about this only now. Once more, selection will not be in my hands. If fitness was a problem, I shouldn’t be here. So, I don’t think I would like to say anything regarding this. If I can play four-day cricket, I can play 50 over cricket as well,” he continued.
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