Mohammed Shami To Miss Test Series Against Bangladesh, Confirms BCCI Secretary

Jay Shah's recent comments about Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan have nearly confirmed that Mohammed Shami will not participate in the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh. Shami is reportedly nearing the end of his rehabilitation process.

The BCCI secretary, in a conversation with The Times of India, emphasised that injured players must play a domestic game and prove their fitness before rejoining the Indian team.

Mohammed Shami has been sidelined since India's World Cup 2023 final against Australia. The star pacer underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon in February. There were speculations about his return for the Test series against Bangladesh.

However, Jay Shah's and BCCI's firm stance has ruled out that possibility. Shami was not included in the squads for the first round of Duleep Trophy 2024 matches starting on September 5. The second round begins on September 12 and ends on September 15, just four days before the first Test.

"We have been a little strict. When Jadeja got injured, I was the one who called him & asked him to play a domestic game. It's certain now; whoever gets injured & goes out can only come into the Indian team after proving their fitness in domestic cricket," Jay Shah told TOI.

Jay Shah also mentioned that Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer are participating in the Buchi Babu Tournament to stay in contention for a spot in the Indian team. The duo was previously dropped from BCCI's central contract list for not showing willingness to play domestic matches earlier this year.

"He (Ishan Kishan) will have to follow the rules. He will have to play domestic cricket. Apart from them, everyone else is playing. You should appreciate that. One must note that Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer are playing in the Buchi Babu tournament," Shah told TOI.

Even if Mohammed Shami is named for the second-round matches in Duleep Trophy 2024, it's unlikely that he will feature in the first Test. However, his chances of making a comeback with the second India vs Bangladesh Test starting on September 27 will increase.

"We should not insist on players like Rohit and Virat to play in the Duleep Trophy. They will risk injury. If you have noticed, in Australia and England, every international player does not play domestic cricket. We have to treat the players with respect," Shah explained to TOI.

Shami's absence from competitive cricket since February has raised concerns about his match fitness ahead of crucial series. His potential return hinges on proving his fitness through domestic games as per BCCI's guidelines.

The upcoming series against Bangladesh is crucial for India’s preparation ahead of other significant tournaments. Ensuring players' fitness through domestic matches remains a priority for BCCI.