'Shami will be there...': BCCI secretary Jay Shah virtually confirms India pacer for Australia Test series

BCCI secretary Jay Shah all but confirmed Mohammed Shami for India’s tour of Australia later this year while underlining the senior pacer’s experience as the primary reason why captain Rohit Sharma needs him in the attack.

Shami has been out of action since finishing as the leading wicket-taker in last year’s ODI World Cup at home thanks to an ankle injury, having undergone surgery since then. It will be exactly a year since his last appearance in an Indian kit if he ends up boarding the flight to Australia, where the marquee five-Test series against the reigning red-ball world champions gets underway on 22 November in Perth.

“Our team is already well prepared. We have rested Jasprit Bumrah for a while now. Mohammad Shami is expected to be fit too. This is an experienced Indian side now. Seniors like Rohit and Kohli are fit,” Shah told The Times of India.

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“Shami will be there (in Australia) because he is experienced, and we need him in Australia,” he added.

While there has been no official announcement regarding Shami’s return to action, some reports suggest he could be considered for the two Test-series against Bangladesh . The Bengal pacer could also feature in the Ranji Trophy to get some practice in before the Australia Tests.

Shami had started bowling in the nets only a month ago and is reportedly nearing his comeback from the ankle injury that he had picked up midway through the World Cup.

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