In a huge boost for the India National Cricket Team, the veteran right-arm quick Mohammed Shami is set to join the Test squad in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 very soon.
According to the latest report, Mohammed Shami is highly likely to partner Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth Test of the series, which is set to be hosted by the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26.
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Mohammed Shami’s kit dispatched to Australia
According to PTI, Shami will be available for the last two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. His kit has been sent Down Under and the pacer will be leaving for Australia very soon.
Mohammed Shami getting a fitness clearance certificate from the NCA’s medical team now just remains a ‘matter of formality’ as the right-arm quick is fully fit to compete.
“Shami’s India kit has already been dispatched to Australia. He will complete Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 assignment and then leave,” news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.
Shami will be next seen in action on Monday, December 9, in the preliminary quarter-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 against Chandigarh in Bengaluru. The final of the domestic T20 competition is set to be held on December 15. Meanwhile, Shami will travel to Australia after completing his SMAT stint.
As the preliminary quarter-final is in Bengaluru, Shami will be assessed by the NCA medical team head, Dr Nitin Patel, and Strength and Conditioning trainer, Nishant Bordoloi, after the match.
He (Shami) has already shed around six kilograms of body weight – Bengal head coach
Speaking about Shami, the Bengal head coach, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, stated that he is unaware of the pacer’s participation in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy beyond the preliminary quarter-final.
“Shami will be playing the pre-quarterfinal for us against Chandigarh. He will join us in Bengaluru by tomorrow. However, I am not sure if he will be available if we qualify for quarters or go the distance. Guess he will be fit and available for the last two Australia Tests,” Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla told PTI.
Shukla further revealed that Shami has lost 6 kilograms of body weight and has played a lot of cricket in a short period of time, indicating that his body is ready to take Test cricket workload.
“He (Shami) has already shed around six kilograms of body weight. He has played seven T20 games in 13 days. If he plays pre-quarters it will be eight games in 16 days. Shami himself wanted to play a fair amount of domestic cricket and inform NCA how his body reacts,” Shukla said.
Mohammed Shami playing regularly since his return to cricket
Mohammed Shami, who was out of action since November 2023, made his return to cricket during the Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Madhya Pradesh on November 13.
He did a great job in the match and bagged 7 wickets across two innings without facing any fitness issues. After that, he took part in 7 consecutive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches against Punjab, Hyderabad, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
In all those matches, Shami delivered decent performances, but the biggest development was that he didn’t feel any issues with his body.