Days after claiming that Mohammad Shami’s ‘knee is swollen’ and that the team management wants to be ‘very careful’ about his withdrawal, India captain Rohit Sharma said it was ‘high time’ someone at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) said. Update on fast bowlers.
After the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended in a draw, leaving the series well at 1-1 in the last two games, Rohit was asked if Shami would go down for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.
He replied: “I think it’s time someone in the NCA gave an update on Shami. That’s where he’s rehabbing. Those people need to give us an update.”
Shami recently went to Bengaluru for a fitness test.
After the Adelaide Test, Rohit had said: “We are just monitoring him because Syed Mushtaq Ali had swelling in his knee while playing, which hampered his preparation for the Test match. We want to be very careful, we don’t want to bring him here, he pulls an injury. Or something happens.”
Earlier this month, sources told The Indian Express that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is awaiting the NCA’s approval to fly the pacer to Australia for the rest of the series. The senior selection committee, officials said, was awaiting the results of a recent fitness test from the NCA to include him in the Test squad.
Once Shami’s clothes and visa are ready and he is declared fit, he will go to Australia as soon as possible.
Shami, who last played in a Test in June 2023 when India lost to Australia in the World Test Championship final, made a successful comeback after a one-year break due to a knee injury.
The 34-year-old led the Bengal pace attack in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, taking 11 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 7.85.
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