The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has provided a big update on Mohammed Shami's fitness and availability for the remaining two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test which will be played in Melbourne and Sydney respectively. The star pacer will not be available to join India as despite recovering from a heel problem, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling.
BCCI on Shami
"The BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence has been working closely with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami on his recovery and rehabilitation after his right heel surgery. Shami has completely recovered from this heel problem. Shami bowled 43 overs in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in November. Following this, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he also engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume in order to get ready for the Test matches," BCCI said in their official statement.
"However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period. Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," the statement further added.
The star Indian pacer has not played any format of International cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023 Final against Pat Cummins' Australia which was held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
Questions on Vijay Hazare's participationsÂ
Shami was also rested from Bengal's opening match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Delhi. BCCI has made it official that the pacer's availability in the domestic tournament will be decided after the medical team monitors his workload and gives green signal to his recovery.
"Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee," said BCCI
Rohit Sharma had earlier wryly avoided inquiries about the pacer by claiming that only the NCA could judge his level of fitness. Before deciding whether to include Shami in the Test squad, Rohit emphasized that the NCA would need to confirm his readiness.
