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India captain Rohit Sharma said the team management in Australia was awaiting clearance from the medical team at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on Shami
Rohit Sharma speaks on inclusion of Mohammad Shami for the remaining BGT Tests
India are done with three Tests in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and it’s pretty evident that they are badly missing Mohammad Shami. The right-arm quick, who has 32 wickets in Tests Down Under, is actively participating in the domestic white-ball tournaments but is yet to get clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE, previously National Cricket Academy), Bengaluru.
Shami last played an international match in November 2023 before being sidelined due to an ankle injury. He had an issue with his knee during the course of his rehabilitation, further delaying his return for Team India. Reports suggested that he would join the Indian camp in Australia before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, starting December 26. However, there’s still no clarity on his participation in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Addressing the matter in the post-match presser on Wednesday, India captain Rohit Sharma said the team management in Australia was awaiting clearance from the medical team at the BCCI COE.
“I think it’s high time somebody from NCA talked about him. That’s our national cricket academy where he is rehabilitating. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update,” Rohit told the press at the Gabba.
“But look, I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. The last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens,” he added.
Rohit further said that the team won’t take any risk before getting clearance, adding that the doors are always open for Shami.
“There’s no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not a hundred per cent, 200 hundred per cent sure. We’re not going to take any risk. But yeah, like I said in the last press conference, the door is open. If those guys at the NCA feel that he’s okay to go and recover and play, I will be happy to have him,” he added.
Shami has been playing for Bengal in the ongoing domestic season. After playing a Ranji Trophy match and nine games in the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, the 34-year-old has been named in Bengal’s squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.
- Location :
Brisbane, Australia
