Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami has indicated that he has no fitness concerns bothering him at the moment and could have played India’s recently-concluded Test series against the West Indies had he been selected. India chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that he had no updates on the 35-year-old’s fitness and the latter said that keeping the selectors informed about his status.
“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. Additionally, Shami had not been picked for India’s upcoming limited overs tour of Australia either, in which they play three ODIs and five T20Is.
“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 said, when asked about the omission for the Australia tour.
“About giving an update, it’s not my responsibility to give an update or ask for an update. It’s not my job to give updates on my fitness. My job is to go to the NCA (Centre of Excellence), 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 bluntly, referring to the established norms that require the CoE to issue fitness certificates.
Shami hasn’t played a Test match since the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s. While his absence was deemed as one of the reasons why India struggled in their 2024/25 tour of Australia, Shami himself has struggled to hold on to a spot in the Indian team across formats since coming back from the lengthy injury break.
He played seven ODIs and and two T20Is earlier this year. Five of those ODI matches came in India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign. While Shami was tied with Varun Chakravarthy for India’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament, he also averaged 25.88.
