BCCI vs Mohammed Shami takes new twist! Pacer called out by the board for ‘building narrative’

Mohammed Shami last played for India in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The topic “Why is Mohammed Shami not playing for India?” has taken a new twist. As per the reports in the PTI, the pacer’s comments of ‘there was no communication by selectors’ have been termed absolutely false by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

When the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 began for India with the England tour, Mohammed Shami was expected to be on a flight to the UK. But, when the squad was announced, he was deemed unfit and then was expected to make a comeback in the home series. 

He missed out on the team for the West Indies tests as well and then when Ajit Agarkar was asked where the pacer is, he replied that he is still not fit. However, Mohammed Shami retaliated immediately saying that if he is fit to play in the Ranji Trophy then why not the Indian side?

After that, Mohammed Shami bowled around 90 overs in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 and took 15 wickets. Despite that, he didn’t make a return to the national team for the South Africa tests, which will be played from November 14 in Kolkata. 

So the narrative that there was no communication with Shami isn’t an absolute truth – BCCI official

The reason behind that has been is that Mohammed Shami was contacted multiple times by the selectors as they wanted to have him in the team for the England series. They wanted him to play in a tour game involving India A and England Lions but the pacer replied that he needs to build his workload and shouldn’t be considered for the assignment.

“There have been multiple times that national selectors and support staff from the BCCI Centre of Excellence have called to check on Shami. The selection committee was desperate to get his services in England as Jasprit Bumrah could not have played more than three Tests. Who wouldn’t want a bowler of his calibre in English conditions?” 

“So the narrative that there was no communication with Shami isn’t an absolute truth. The sports science team also has his medical reports and whether his body will be able to take the rigours of international cricket,” said a BCCI official.

There is no clarity on whether Mohammed Shami will be back in the mix or not. In the first three rounds of Ranji Trophy 2025-26, he bowled 93 overs and took 15 wickets in them. With Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and others making valuable contributions, the door seems to be shut for Shami in tests.

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