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The mystery over Mohammed Shami’s continual absence from Team India remains as the veteran pacer was again overlooked for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa at home. Shami last played international cricket in March this year and despite him bowling regularly in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, the selection committee continues to ignore him. Shami has gone on record claiming absence of communication from the team management over why he’s not being considered for India. However, a latest report, citing an unnamed BCCI official, claims that Shami isn’t revealing the entire truth. The official claims that the selectors and support staff have been in regular touch with the 35-year-old and they were in fact, “desperate” for him to be part of India’s Test tour of England earlier this year. To check whether the seasoned campaigner could go through the rigours of red-ball cricket, the was asked to play in a tour game involving India A and England Lions in either Canterbury or Northampton. However, the report claims that “the pacer responded by saying that he still needs to build his workload and shouldn’t be considered for the assignment.” “There have been multiple times that national selectors and support staff from the BCCI Centre of Excellence have called to check on Shami. The selection committee was desperate to get his services in England as Jasprit Bumrah could not have played more than three Tests. Who wouldn’t want a bowler of his calibre in English conditions?” a senior board official told PTI. “So the narrative that there was no communication with Shami isn’t an absolute truth. The sports science team also has his medical reports and whether his body will be able to take the rigours of international cricket,” the official added.
