Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami has expressed his displeasure with not being selected for the white-ball team to tour Australia, indirectly criticizing the national selectors. In an interview before playing in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, Shami said his selection for domestic cricket is proof of his fitness, and that it is not his duty to keep the selection panel in the loop about his physical state.
Shami, who was instrumental in India's Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year being the joint-highest wicket-taker with Varun Chakravarthy has been recuperating from chronic ankle and knee problems, which had to be operated on after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Even though the 35-year-old performed brilliantly in that tournament, taking 24 wickets from just seven games, he has not been part of India's Test and white-ball teams in recent months.
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"I have said this before... Selection is not in my hands. If there is a fitness issue, I shouldn't be here playing for Bengal," Shami told reporters on the eve of Bengal's Ranji opener against Uttarakhand at the Eden Gardens.
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"I think I do not need to speak on this and create a controversy. If I can play four-dayers (Ranji Trophy), I can also play 50-overs cricket," he added,
"My job is to go to the NCA (National Cricket Academy), prepare and play matches. Woh unki baat hai unko kaun update deta hai, kisne nahin diya (That's their matter who gives them updates or not). It's not my responsibility," he said
Selector chairman Ajit Agarkar had stated at the announcement of the squad for the tour of Australia that there was no update on the fitness of Shami. Reacting to this, Shami made it clear that he got proper rehabilitation done and has been following all procedures after the surgery, even making a comeback in the Duleep Trophy for East Zone in the current season. He added that he has been match-fit for some time now.
"I always say that you should select the best for your country. It's a matter of the country. The country should win. We should all be happy. That's what I always say," he said.
"Keep fighting, keep playing games. If you perform well, it will benefit you as well. Selection is not in my hands. I can only prepare and play matches. I have no objection... If you don't select me, I will come here and play for Bengal. I have no issue with it," he added.
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"I also don't want to play in pain or make the team suffer. I wanted to come back after the operation and make a strong comeback. I am trying to do the same.
"I am ready to go whenever they (selectors) want me to go,"
Though giving credit to the fact that team dynamics are changing and younger players are being trained, Shami was pragmatic about it, saying that in cricket, consistency is difficult to be achieved and every player has moments of ups and downs. He asserted his allegiance to domestic cricket, labelling it the "real benchmark" for any cricketer.
The experienced pacer, who also played his most recent Test match in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023, also spoke about how Ranji Trophy is important to him, not merely for match practice but as a test of readiness.
"In the old days, Ranji Trophy was a big level for anyone. But today, we have a platform, and you think it's an 'insult' to go back to play first-class cricket like Ranji Trophy. I don't think so. You should play four-day cricket," he said.
As the Indian team goes through a transition period, Shami remains hopeful of a comeback but reiterated that his priority is still performance not to give explanations.