BCCI Confirms Mohammed Shami Unfit for Upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Matches
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New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) Veteran fast-bowler Mohammed Shami has been ruled out for the remaining two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to concerns regarding left knee swelling and the necessity for additional time to manage his bowling workload effectively, as reported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday.
After fully recovering from a heel injury and subsequent surgery that sidelined him for almost a year, Shami made a successful return to professional cricket in Bengal’s fifth-round match of the Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh at Indore, where he took seven wickets in his team’s victory and bowled 43 overs. He also spearheaded Bengal's bowling efforts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, claiming nine wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 7.85, with a best performance of 3-21 against Hyderabad, prior to their defeat to Baroda in the quarterfinals held in Bengaluru.
In response to Shami’s fitness, BCCI’s Sports Science head Nitin Patel, strength and conditioning coach Nishanta Bordoloi, along with selectors Ajay Ratra and SS Das, have periodically assessed his condition and communicated updates to the Indian team management in Australia.
With Shami making strides back into competitive cricket, there was optimism regarding his inclusion in the Indian squad for the Test series in Australia. However, a recent fitness assessment from Devajit Saikia, the BCCI Joint Secretary, extinguished any hopes of the pacer participating in the final two Test matches.
Saikia noted that Shami, who had been engaging in extra bowling sessions during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches to augment his bowling volume for the Test matches, has experienced minor swelling in his left knee due to increased joint strain from his bowling efforts.
“The swelling is consistent with expectations, given the uptick in bowling after an extended hiatus. Following the latest medical evaluation, the BCCI Medical Team has concluded that his knee necessitates more time for controlled exposure to bowling workloads. Therefore, he is not fit for selection for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” he stated.
Saikia further indicated that Shami will continue his focused strength and conditioning training under the supervision of the medical team at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to prepare his bowling loads for the demands of the longest format of the game. Shami was also rested from Bengal’s opening match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy league stage in Hyderabad on December 21, with Saikia mentioning that his participation in the 50-over format will be contingent on the improvement of his left knee.
After the conclusion of the Brisbane Test, Indian captain Rohit Sharma sought an update from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) regarding Shami’s condition during the post-match press briefing.
However, with the BCCI confirming that Shami would not travel to Australia, India’s fast-bowling contingent will continue to feature Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna.
