In what will be a big blow for the India National Cricket Team, Mohammed Shami won’t be flying to Australia anytime soon. As per the reports in Cricbuzz, it is learned that the fast bowler is yet to receive clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The reports claimed that Mohammed Shami’s availability for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is yet to be decided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This is because the Sports Science wing of the BCCI’s Bengaluru-based Centre of Excellence is yet to submit an all-clear report to the BCCI.
Team from NCA went to Rajkot to monitor the fitness of Mohammed Shami
Recently a team from NCA went to Rajkot to monitor the fitness of Mohammed Shami as he was playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). The team included a national selector (SS Das), the head of BCCI’s Sports Science wing (Nitin Patel) and a Strength and Conditioning trainer (Nishant Bardule).
The reports further added that there are chances that Mohammed Shami might be available for the last two games of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, to be played in Melbourne and Sydney respectively. There are even chances that he might not be sent to Australia at all.
The NCA team was in Bengal to see whether Mohammed Shami would be able to withstand the gruelling workload of a Test match. However, so far nothing positive has come out related to his travel to Australia even though he is playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Mohammad Shami has looked in decent touch with the ball in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25
In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, Mohammad Shami has looked in decent touch with the ball. He has played seven games and has picked 8 wickets, helping his team reach the knockouts of the tournament, which he is expected to play.
Bengal will be taking on Chandigarh in the pre-quarterfinals which will be played at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on November 9. The pacer will be key for his team in the knockout stage and would be keen to prove his fitness and force himself into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Mohammed Shami made his comeback in Ranji Trophy game for Bengal
Shami also featured in the Ranji Trophy game for Bengal and had figures of 4 for 54 and 3 for 102 in two innings. Him returning to the India National Cricket Team for even the last two games will be crucial for the team as his absence is felt with others not supporting Jasprit Bumrah much.
He was recently picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 10 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The pacer is expected to play the entire season, having missed the entire last season after The injury that he faced in the 2023 World Cup.
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