According to Mohammed Badruddin, Mohammed Shami‘s boyhood coach, the BCCI selectors are purposefully excluding the famous bowler’s name when it comes to his comeback to the Indian squad. After recovering from an ankle injury the previous season, the right-arm seamer was not immediately promoted to the national team. In an attempt to convince the selectors of his fitness, he played domestic cricket.
Despite playing white-ball cricket for India earlier this year, Shami has yet to return to the Test scene. This season, he has bowled successfully in the Ranji Trophy, taking 15 wickets at an average of 15.5 in three games for Bengal. Shami’s name was absent, though, when the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the team for the home Test series against South Africa.
According to Badruddin, the Indian team management may have been able to lighten Jasprit Bumrah’s workload by including Shami in the squad against the Proteas.
“My idea is straightforward: it’s obvious that they are ignoring him. I can’t think of any other explanation. He’s not unfit—a player doesn’t appear unfit at all when he’s playing Test matches and getting 15 wickets in two games. In an interview with India Today, Badruddin stated, “I don’t think he’s unfit.”
In my opinion, they need to have retained Shami for rotation,” he continued.
“He is simply being overlooked by the selections. Only they know why they are acting in that way. However, since this series is in India and just two fast bowlers will be playing anyhow, I honestly believed he would be selected. He should have been on the squad, though. Given that Bumrah is unable to play three-and-a-half Test matches in a row, it would have lessened his workload.
It is incorrect to choose tests based on T20 metrics: Badruddin
According to Shami’s personal coach, a player’s selection for the Test team ought to be based on their red-ball exploits rather than their T20 cricket performance. Since the selectors have already chosen who players they wish to pick, Badruddin believes that their doubts about Shami’s match fitness are an excuse to keep him off the team.
“I believe they have decided not to select him at this time, which is very incorrect in my opinion. Ranji Trophy performances should be the basis for choosing a Test team. It is incorrect to choose for tests based on T20 metrics.
“You should choose from those who are performing well in Ranji. In this case, however, it appears that the choices are predetermined; they simply follow the list of players they already know they desire. Therefore, all of this discussion about fitness or performance is only a pretext. It’s untrue to say that “he’s unfit” or “needs match practice.” Badruddin stated, “They already have a plan about who they want to play and who they don’t.”
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