BGT 2024-25: Mohammed Shami to fly Australia if he gets clearance from Sports Science Department of NCA – Reports

Mohammed Shami has taken four wickets in five matches for Bengal in SMAT 2024.

Mohammed Shami’s participation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 will depend on the final assessment of the NCA Sports Science Department.

A BCCI Sports Science team, together with a national selector, is currently camping in Rajkot to closely monitor the India bowler, who is returning from a year-long injury-induced sabbatical.

Nitin Patel, head of the BCCI’s Sports Science wing at the new Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, together with trainer Nishant Bardule and selector SS Das, have been stationed in the Saurashtra city to keep an eye on Shami.  

The pacer is currently representing Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25. The NCA team’s brief is to determine whether Shami can manage the physical demands of a high-intensity test match if he is called up to the squad.

Mohammed Shami needs clearance from NCA medical team to fly to Australia to join Team India

The NCA trainer, who worked with Mohammed Shami till Saturday, has left the pacer with drills that he should follow. But, Dr. Nitin Patel has stayed put in Rajkot along with the BCCI selector.

According to a report in Cricbuzz, the BCCI would not select the bowler till the Sports Science Department has given its clearance. Chief selector Agarkar and the Indian team’s brain tank, which is now in Australia, are receiving regular updates on the veteran pacer’s progress.

Although performances in T20 matches may not clearly indicate readiness for a test match, the major goal of the observation is to discover whether Shami can handle the workload of a test match rather than to precisely judge his pace, form, and rhythm.

Mohammed Shami has played all five matches for Bengal in SMAT 2024-25 and picked four wickets in those encounters with a best of 3/21 against Hyderabad. Before this, Shami had made his cricketing return in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 for Bengal, claiming seven wickets in his team’s win over Madhya Pradesh in Indore.

The report further stated that the Indian team management and national selectors appear to want Shami to play a few more games before considering him for recall.

Bengal have two more league games scheduled in Rajkot, against Bihar on December 3, and Rajasthan on December 5, before the competition goes to Bengaluru for the knockout rounds, which begin on December 9.

A decision will then be made on Shami’s performance and fitness in these remaining encounters for Bengal in SMAT 2024.

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