The India national cricket team’s squad for the Afghanistan Test and ODI series was announced late on Tuesday afternoon by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devjit Saikia. After the announcement of the team, Mohammed Shami failed to register his name in the Test and ODI team. The name of this experienced fast bowler was missing in both the teams.
However, Ajit Agarkar has dropped his comment on why Mohammed Shami could not make it to the team. According to the information shared by the chief selector, the experienced fast bowler is not ready for the traditional and 50-over formats. Shami is still ready for T20 format only.
T20 cricket is what he is ready for – Ajit Agarkar on Mohammed Shami
Agarkar said, “No (discussion on Shami’s Test comeback). As far as we have been told that at the moment… his body is allowing him to (play), I know he has played the domestic season this year. But the information I have got is that at the moment it is T20 cricket that he is ready for. So there was no discussion about that.”
Mohammed Shami has bowled brilliantly in the last Ranji Trophy season. He was one of the highest wicket takers in the tournament. The absence from India’s Test and ODI squads largely comes down to concerns over fitness management and long-term workload planning.
India’s ODI team: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.
India’s test team: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain) Sai Sudarshan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.
Many more to follow…
Also read: India’s ODI squad for Afghanistan series: Complete details of surprise selections and stars left out