Shami hits back at selectors after being overlooked for India's tour of Australia: 'If there is a fitness issue...'

Senior pacer Mohammed Shami took a dig at the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for leaving him out of the Indian team in recent assignments as well as the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, dismissing concerns over his fitness.

Shami, who had starred in India’s run to the final of the 2023 ICC World Cup at home, is set to play for Bengal in the upcoming season of the Ranji Trophy. The senior pacer added that if he can play four-day domestic matches, then he’s fit enough to play One-Day Internationals as well. The 35-year-old, who had last represented India in their ICC Champions Trophy triumph in March, added that team selection something that is not in his hands.

“I have said this before… Selection is not in my hands. If there is a fitness issue, I shouldn’t be here playing for Bengal,” Shami told reporters ahead of Bengal’s Ranji opener against against Uttarakhand, which got underway at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

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“I think I do not need to speak on this and create a controversy. If I can play four-dayers (Ranji Trophy), I can also play 50-overs cricket,” he added.

Not my job to provide fitness updates, insists Shami

Shami was overlooked for India’s tour of England as well as last month’s Asia Cup, and has also not been considered for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, where the Men in Blue play three ODIs and five T20Is.

And expanding on the topic of his fitness, Shami added that it was not his job to update the selectors. This was in response to chief selector Agarkar claiming that he had not been provided any update on Shami’s fitness while announcing India’s squad for the Australia tour.

“My job is to go to the NCA (National Cricket Academy), prepare and play matches. Woh unki baat hai unko kaun update deta hai, kisne nahin diya (That’s their matter who gives them updates or not). It’s not my responsibility,” he added.

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Shami had returned to the Indian team after more than a year in the white-ball series against England in January and February, playing two T20Is and as many ODIs. That was followed by the Champions Trophy, where he finished with 9 wickets at an average of 25.89 including a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh (5/53) and a three-for in the semi-final against Australia (3/48).

He would, however, had a poor run in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League, where he was eventually benched in his maiden season with Sunrisers Hyderabad after collecting just 6 wickets in 9 appearances at an average and economy of 56.17 and 11.23 respectively.

‘The country should win’

Shami has played just one competitive match between between the IPL and the Ranji Trophy – East Zone’s Duleep Trophy quarter-final against North Zone at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru in August. And while he remains somewhat hopeful, he’s also practical as far as his future in the Indian team is concerned.

“I always say that you should select the best for your country. It’s a matter of the country. The country should win. We should all be happy. That’s what I always say.

“Keep fighting, keep playing games. If you perform well, it will benefit you as well. Selection is not in my hands. I can only prepare and play matches. I have no objection… If you don’t select me, I will come here and play for Bengal. I have no issue with it,” he added.