New Delhi: Indian team’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami is certain to play in the last two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. It is believed that getting fitness clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team is just a formality. There is not much time left for the third Test between India and Australia to be held in Brisbane from December 14, so Shami may be available for the fourth Test to be held in Melbourne from December 26.
Shami played a big role in India’s victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018-19 under the leadership of Virat Kohli. Shami has taken 31 wickets in eight matches in Australia but was not part of the team announced by India for the upcoming series, but after his brilliant comeback in domestic cricket, Shami was considered certain to go to Australia.
Shami’s kit reached Australia?
A close source related to Shami said that the fitness certificate from NCA will be received soon. The source told news agency PTI, ‘Shami’s kit has already been sent to Australia. He will leave for Australia after completing the campaign of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.’ It is known that 34-year-old Shami has not played any match for India since the final of the ODI World Cup last year. He had ankle surgery due to which Shami was on a long break.
Shami is desperate to return to the Indian team:
It was believed that Shami would return from the home Test series against New Zealand, but before that his knee got swollen which delayed Shami’s return. The knockout stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be held in Bangalore and it is believed that NCA’s medical team head Dr. Nitin Patel and strength and conditioning trainer Nishant Bordoloi will see Shami before Bengal’s campaign ends in this tournament.
Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratna Shukla said, Shami will play for us in the pre-quarterfinal match against Chandigarh and will join the team in Bengaluru tomorrow. However, I am not completely sure if we will be able to get Shami’s services if we manage to reach the quarterfinals or beyond the knockout stage. Hopefully, he will be fit and available for the last two Tests against Australia.
Shukla supported the views of former Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri, who feels that Shami should be sent to Australia as soon as possible. Shukla said that Shami did the right thing by deciding to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He said, Shami has already lost six kilograms of weight. He played seven T20 matches within 13 days. If Shami plays in the pre-quarterfinals, he will play eight matches within 16 days. Shami himself wanted to play more domestic cricket and he had told the NCA how his body was reacting.
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