Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has hit out at the BCCI Selection Committee after being left out of India’s recent and upcoming matches. Shami openly expressed his frustration, saying that selectors did not even contact him to check his fitness or availability.
Shami Questions BCCI’s Communication
Shami, one of India’s most dependable bowlers across all formats, was dropped from the Test tour of England in July, the home Test series against the West Indies, and the upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia.
He claimed the selectors never reached out to confirm his fitness, saying, “The Indian team never checked in with me about my fitness. They need to do that first. If I was injured, I’d be at the NCA, not playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy.”
Fitness Rumours Put to Rest
There had been speculation that Shami was dropped due to fitness concerns, but he clarified that he is fully fit and has been playing in domestic competitions. He questioned why his ability to play four-day domestic matches was being ignored when considering him for 50-over games.
Ajit Agarkar Explains Selection Decision
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier suggested that Shami had not played enough competitive cricket recently. Agarkar said the decision was not about injury but about lack of recent match practice, adding, “He knows what he can do as a performer, but he’s got to get out there and play some cricket.”
Shami to Lead Bengal’s Bowling Attack
Despite the ongoing debate, Mohammed Shami has been named in Bengal’s squad for the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. He will lead the attack under captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and vice-captain Abishek Porel, alongside Akash Deep, Ishan Porel, and other promising talents.
Complete Bengal Squad
Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Abishek Porel (vice-captain/wk), Sudip Kumar Gharami, Anustup Majumdar, Sudip Chatterjee, Sumanta Gupta, Saurabh Kumar Singh, Vishal Bhati, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Shakir Habib Gandhi (wk), Ishan Porel, Kazi Junaid Saifi, Rahul Prasad, Sumit Mohanta, and Vikash Singh.
Shami’s Strong Message to Selectors
Shami’s remarks reveal a widening gap between the selectors and senior players. At 35, he remains one of India’s top bowlers, with the experience and skill to make a comeback. As the Ranji Trophy season begins, fans will watch closely to see if Shami’s domestic form earns him a recall to the national side.
