 "Mohammed Shami scores 17-ball 32 and picks a wicket in Mushtaq Ali Trophy as calls for inclusion in India squad grows")
Amid growing calls for his inclusion in the India Test squad for the ongoing Australia series, pacer Mohammed Shami produced an all-round performance to help Bengal beat Chandigarh in the pre-quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in Bengaluru on Monday. Shami performed the rescue act for Bengal on Monday.
Bengal were 114/8 at one stage following the wicket of Kanishk Seth, but Shami came to the rescue with a 17-ball 32 to power his side to a total of 159/9. A majority of Shami’s runs came through boundaries as he slammed three sixes and two fours, forging a 24-run stand with Pradipta Pramanik for the ninth wicket.
Once Pramanik was dismissed in the 19th over, Shami and Sayan Ghosh added 21 runs off 10 balls for the unbeaten final wicket partnership.
Shami then starred with the new ball, registering figures of 1/25 to help Bengal restrict Chandigarh to 156/9. Shai’s first spell included bowling three overs on the trot, taking a wicket and conceding 13 runs. He removed Arslan Khan for a duck i his first over.
I.C.Y.M.I
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 9, 2024
Brilliant catch 🔥
Shakir Habib Gandhi pulled off a superb catch to dismiss Arslan Khan off Mohd. Shami 👌👌#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/u42rkbUfTJ pic.twitter.com/NNG3utEyis
However, Shami left the field after he bowled his third over and received a massage on the sidelines. The 34-year-old returned to the field a few moments later and bowled his fourth over where he went for 12 runs.
Shami has not played for India since the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia late last year.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe injured his ankle during the summit clash in Ahmedabad and underwent surgery in February. Shami had made his competitive comeback in a Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in November, where he picked seven wickets including a four-fer in the first innings.
There are reports that Shami could play in the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under , but the veteran is yet to receive clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) , who has been monitoring the right-arm pacer.
Skipper Rohit Sharma said that India wanted a fully fit Shami in Australia. “We want to be more than 100% sure with him because it has been a long time. We don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team. There are some professionals monitoring, we will take a call based on what those guys feel.
“They are the ones watching him every game, how he pulls up after the game, after bowling four overs, standing for 20 overs. But the door is open for him to come and play anytime,” Rohit said in Sunday’s press conference.
The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is now level at 1-1 following Australia’s 10-wicket win in the pink ball Test in Adelaide. The third Test will get underway from 14 December in Brisbane.
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