Tags: India, Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar, Mohammed Shami Ahmed
Posted on: July 25, 2024
India’s chief cricket selector Ajit Agarkar has discussed the possibility of a return for top fast bowler Mohammad Shami. Shami has been out of action since the ODI World Cup 2023 final in November, but could now return for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home in September 2024.
Shami is currently working on regaining full fitness at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. With the first Test match against Bangladesh scheduled to begin on September 19, Agarkar said he hopes Shami will be back by then. The chief selector noted that Shami has resumed training and started bowling again, which is a positive development.
However, Agarkar stressed that Shami’s selection for the Test series would depend on his performance in the lead-up and the ongoing assessment by the NCA. “We pretty much know who the players are. We have a few injuries right now and we hope they will come back. Shami has started bowling, which is a good sign. The first Test match against Bangladesh is on September 19. That was always the target (for him to be back by then). I don’t know if that is his recovery timeline. We will have to talk to the players at the NCA to see if he will be back in the team by then,” he said.
Agarkar also stressed the importance of depth in the bowling department, noting that Team India will play 10 Test matches before the WTC 2023-25 final. He stressed the need to groom young players in first-class matches to strengthen the bowling force. While Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Shami are the top-class pacers, Agarkar said it is important to have more backups for the future. “There are so many Tests coming up. Depth will be needed. Bumrah, Shami, Siraj have been there for quite some time and these are the obvious ones. But there will be a conversation about it. There is a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can develop such players,” he concluded.
In other news, Mohammad Shami has recently been embroiled in controversy over his comments on the plight of the Pakistan cricket team, particularly his criticism of former Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq. Shami’s comments on Inzamam’s nephew Imam-ul-Haq have drawn backlash from former Pakistan cricketers, who have criticized Shami’s comments.
