Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Selectors awaiting NCA fitness report to fly Mohammed Shami to Australia

It is understood that the BCCI has already prepared the clothing for the pacer and even his visa is ready and once declared fit, will fly to Australia at the earliest.

Though India got off to a winning start at Perth, they missed Shami’s presence in the Adelaide pink-ball Test, where Harshit Rana has been expensive so far.

Perth and the day/night Test in Adelaide would have been ideal settings for Shami, but a bowler of his skill and ability doesn’t always need conditions to be in his favour. (Reuters)

“The selection committee is waiting for the NCA’s fitness clearance report on Shami. He travelled to Bengaluru to give a fitness test. He played the Ranji Trophy as well as the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, where he looked good. His kit is also ready. We are just waiting for the approval from the NCA,” a BCCI official said.

“There is absolutely no communication between Shami and the team management,” says Mohammed Badruddin, Mohammed Shami’s childhood coach.

“He is fit. He has played one Ranji Trophy match, helped Bengal reach the quarter-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He bowled a long spell in the red-ball, takes field throughout the 20 overs in the white ball. How much more proof they want.

“If the Indian team management wants to win the series they will call him before the Brisbane Test. One Bumrah will not win you the series. He needs help and we saw that in this Test. There is something called experience.

“If he will not go to Australia, he will play for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Whose loss is this?”

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri expressed concerns over India’s pace attack and said that the side will only be boosted by Shami’s return to the squad for the remaining three Tests. “The quicker he (Shami) reaches here, the better,” Ravi Shastri told while commentating on Star Sports.

Shami, who last featured in a Test during India’s World Test Championship final defeat to Australia in June 2023, has made a successful comeback after a year’s break due to a knee injury. The 34-year-old spearheaded the Bengal pace attack in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, picking up 8 wickets in seven matches at a 7.67 economy to reach the knockouts.

Shami also played in a Ranji Trophy match and led Bengal to a thrilling win over Madhya Pradesh with a seven-wicket match haul.

Shastri, however, said it is likely that Shami will rejoin the squad in time for the next Test that begins in Brisbane on December 14. The fourth and fifth Tests of the series will be played in Melbourne and Sydney between December 26 and January 7.

“I think Brisbane might be a little too early, maybe Melbourne and Sydney,” remarked Shastri.