Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has openly criticized the national selection committee after being left out of India’s recent white-ball squads. Now fully fit and bowling with intensity for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, Shami declared he is “match-ready” and expressed frustration over the lack of clarity and communication from selectors regarding his fitness status.
After a long rehabilitation phase following ankle and heel surgeries earlier this year, Shami has returned to domestic action looking sharp. His exclusion from India’s ODI and T20I squads, however, has sparked questions about whether selectors are intentionally phasing out senior players. The right-arm quick made it clear that he has not received any updates or explanations from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee regarding his omission.
Speaking to reporters after Bengal’s match, Shami didn’t hold back. “It’s not my job to give updates on my fitness. My job is to bowl, train, and perform,” he said. “If I can play four-day Ranji matches for Bengal, then I can also play 50-over cricket for India. I have no fitness issues.” His remarks were a direct response to comments from chief selector Agarkar, who had earlier stated that he had no recent update from the pacer about his recovery progress.
Shami emphasized that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and medical team are responsible for monitoring player fitness, not the players themselves. “There are proper systems in place to assess fitness. If someone from the NCA says I’m fit, that should be enough for selectors. Why should a player chase them with updates?” he questioned.
The 34-year-old’s comments highlight a growing communication gap between India’s senior players and the selection panel. While the BCCI has been pushing for a transition towards younger bowlers like Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, Shami’s experience and proven record make his exclusion hard to justify on purely cricketing grounds.
Sources close to the team setup suggest that Shami’s absence may be part of a workload management strategy, given his importance in Test cricket. However, Shami’s own words suggest he feels fit enough to feature in all formats if selected. His recent Ranji performances have reaffirmed his rhythm and sharpness — he consistently clocked speeds above 140 km/h and extracted bounce even on slow tracks.
Despite his criticism, Shami avoided personal attacks, instead urging selectors to maintain transparency and fairness. “Communication is important. Players deserve clarity about where they stand. Whether you select me or not, just tell me the reason,” he said.
Shami’s fiery comeback also reignites the broader debate about India’s handling of senior fast bowlers. With the World Test Championship and upcoming ODI tours ahead, selectors face the challenge of balancing youth development with the experience and skill of proven performers like Shami.
For now, the message from the Bengal spearhead is clear: he’s fit, focused, and ready to don the India jersey again. The ball, quite literally, is now in the selectors’ court.
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