Shastri Critiques BCCI on Shami's Injury Management

Dubai, Jan 7 (NationPress) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed doubts about the BCCI's approach to Mohammed Shami's injury management, particularly regarding their decision to not send the seasoned pacer for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, a contest India lost 3-1.

Since the 2023 World Cup Final, Shami has been sidelined from international cricket due to an ankle injury, which required surgery in early 2024. Despite this, he made appearances in domestic red-ball cricket, sparking hopes for a comeback during the Test series in Australia.

Before the fourth Test in Melbourne, he was officially ruled out, with the BCCI medical team attributing this to subsequent swelling in his knee.

Shastri, alongside Ponting, believes that Shami's presence in Australia, even if only for the latter part of the series, could have been beneficial.

Shastri remarked that Shami should have been taken to Australia, allowing for a later decision on his potential participation.

"Absolutely, there's no question about that,” Shastri noted in the latest The ICC Review when asked if Shami could have influenced the series in Melbourne or Sydney.

“To be honest, I was very surprised with the communication going on in the media regarding what exactly happened to Mohammed Shami. Where is he in terms of recovery?

"He's been sitting in the NCA for I don't know how long. Why can't proper communication come out on where he stands? A player of his caliber, I would have taken him to Australia," he stated.

"I would have included him in the team and ensured his rehabilitation was conducted alongside the team. If by the third Test match we assessed he couldn't participate anymore, I would have allowed him to go.

"However, I would have kept him with the team, monitored his progress with top physiotherapists, and considered advice from international physiotherapists in Australia to see how he was doing. But I would have kept him involved," Shastri added.

Ponting echoed Shastri’s views, highlighting how crucial Shami could have been towards the end of the Australia series.

“I was really surprised he wasn't flown out even halfway through the series, after two Test matches. India's lineup had Nitish Reddy in it, providing another seam bowling all-rounder.

“So, even if Shami wasn't fully fit, he could have bowled fewer overs in a day, supported by another seam option. I believe he could have made a significant difference," Ponting shared with The ICC Review.

"When you asked me earlier about my prediction for the result, I said 3-1 to Australia because Shami was absent. That was my first thought. His presence was vital for India.

"If Shami, Bumrah, and Siraj had been in their starting lineup, I think the outcomes could have been entirely different here in Australia," he said.

Shastri further suggested that Shami could have provided essential support to Jasprit Bumrah, who also faced fitness challenges towards the series' conclusion.

“It was tightly poised at 1-1 going into Melbourne. You needed that experience and support. For all you know, he might have elevated the team's performance as well. It would have been a duo of Bumrah and Shami.

“Pat Cummins couldn't have managed it alone; Scotty Boland had to step in. Hence, a bowler of Shami's experience was necessary. Despite Mohammed Siraj's efforts, Shami's expertise was essential there," Shastri concluded.