Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar reveals Mohammed Shami's return date

India chief selector Ajit Agarkar provided massive update on recovering fast bowler Mohammed Shami.

Indian men’s cricket team chief selector Ajit Agarkar has revealed the return date of recovering fast bowler Mohammed Shami during the press conference ahead of Team India’s departure for the white ball tour of Sri Lanka. The exciting series will be played from July 27 to August 7.

The 33-year-old Shami has been out of cricketing action since the conclusion of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. During the tournament, the right-arm pacer suffered an ankle injury, but the veteran cricketer went on to play the whole mega event with the help of injections and painkillers as advised by doctors at the NCA.

After the end of the ODI World Cup 2023, Shami was monitored by the BCCI medical team. The veteran then underwent surgery on his Achilles Tendon in February 2024.

Earlier this year, Shami missed the five-match test series against England at home. Then, the 33-year-old was ruled out of the Indian Premier League 2024. He then missed the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June.

He has started to bowl: Chief Selector Agarkar provides a crucial update on Shami’s recovery

Team India are all set to travel Sri Lanka to play three T20Is and as many ODIs, starting from July 27. However, the veteran speedster Shami will miss the whole white-ball tour as he is yet to recover from his injury.

After the Sri Lanka series, India’s home season will get underway with the Bangladesh cricket team touring for a two-match test series and a three-match T20I series.

The tests will be played from September 19 to September 27, whereas T20Is are scheduled from October 6 to October 12. Ahead of Indian cricket team’s departure for the Sri Lanka white-ball tour, chief selector Agarkar has shed light on Shami’s return date.

Agarkar expressed that Shami has started bowling at nets. He further revealed that the main goal for the Indian management was to make Shami fit before the start of the two-match test series against Bangladesh in September.

However, the chief selector Agarkar, said that he will have to consult with the NCA team for availability of Shami for the home test series against Bangladesh.

“He (Mohammed Shami) has started to bowl. The first Test is 19th September (first test against Bangladesh). That was always the goal (him making a comeback by that time). Whether he can make it back to the squad by that (Bangladesh series) time, I’ll have to speak with the guys at the NCA,” Agarkar said during the press conference ahead of Sri Lanka series.

Bangladesh tour of India 2024: Full schedule

Two-match Test series:

September 19: IND vs BAN – First Test – Chennai

September 27: IND vs BAN – Second Test – Kanpur

Three-match T20i series:

October 06: IND vs BAN – First T20I – Dharamsala

October 09: IND vs BAN – Second T20I – Delhi

October 12: IND vs BAN – Third T20I – Hyderabad

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