The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 16-member squad on September 8, ahead of the inaugural Test match against Bangladesh, which is slated to start on September 19, 2024. While there were a number of regulars in the team, it was also nice to see players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant make their long-awaited comebacks. The first-ever call-up for left-arm pacer Yash Dayal caught the attention of supporters and internet users alike when Mohammed Shami, a right-arm pacer, was left out.
Because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, Shami was unable to play in the 2024 Indian Premier League or the T20 World Cup. His surgery was completed in the final week of February, and there were early rumours about when he would return to competitive cricket.
There were a lot of speculations indicating that Mohammed Shami would not be brought back into the team via the Bangladesh Tests.
As time went on and the pacer continued to offer updates on his recovery via his social media accounts. Rather, he will be gradually introduced to cricket, with the BCCI instructing him to play in Bengal’s opening Ranji Trophy match on October 11.
Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI’s top selector, had hinted a few weeks prior that Shami would be given another chance to play in the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Shami had been bowling in the nets at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru since the final week of July, so it’s quite likely that he made the assertion.
The primary goal of the selectors is to unleash the most deadly version of Shami—both mentally and physically—for India’s five-match Test series against Australia later this year. Shami’s desire to concentrate on his path to the best possible recovery is thought to be one of the primary reasons he isn’t included on the 16-man roster, much less the starting XI.
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The seasoned pacer’s final international cricket match was in 2023, during the World Cup for 50 overs. With 24 wickets at an incredible average of 10.70 in seven matches, he emerged as the top wicket-taker.
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