Test legend Cheteshwar Pujara sent a blunt message to the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir’s team management for ignoring Mohammed Shami in the international setup. He urged the team management and selectors to have a “clear and honest” conversation with the veteran speedster about his future in international cricket.
Pujara on Shami's omission from India squad
Notably, Shami was ignored in the squad selection since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 despite a strong performance for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, where he picked up 15 wickets in three outings. After BCCI announced India's squad for the South Africa series, the selectors faced a lot of criticism for not picking Shami.
Speaking to the media ahead of the opening Test match in Kolkata, JioStar expert Pujara said: “Someone like Mohammed Shami should be having – I mean, the selectors and the team management should have a very honest conversation with him. What’s the plan going forward? Whether they want to pick him or whether they are looking at the young players."
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Pujara urged the BCCI to inform Shami about their decision
Pujara, who announced retirement from all forms of international cricket earlier this year in August, urged the BCCI to inform Mohammed Shami if they have moved on from him and want to explore younger pace options
“If he is being informed that they are not looking at him, then it is always Shami’s personal call whether he wants to carry on playing first-class cricket, whether he still wants to – I mean, he is part of the IPL as well. So, he would want to carry on playing cricket,” Pujara said.
Shami's last international outing
Mohammed Shami's last international outing came in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where the veteran pacer picked up nine wickets in five outings that helped Rohit Sharma-led India to win the title, defeating New Zealand in the final at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. The 35-year-old played a crucial role for India in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, picking 24 wickets in just seven outings, including a seven-wicket haul where Australia defeated India in the final.