The Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is unlikely to fly to Australia anytime soon as he is yet to receive medical clearance from NCA and BCCI remains uncertain when he can be sent to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
The Indian team management is reportedly keen on flying Mohammed Shami to Australia as soon as possible, NCA is set to delay the all-clearance reports to the veteran seamer.
Shami who underwent surgery on his ankle, suffered a knee injury which delayed his recovery progress. However, he made a successful return to competitive cricket for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. In the one day-four match he played, the right-arm seamer picked up seven wickets.
The 34 year old been key for Bengal’s pace attack in the SMAT 2024 picking 8 wickets in seven matches at 7.67 economy to reach the Knockouts.
The Indian team in Australia, meanwhile is ready to welcome Shami back. The visa formalities are done and they have already prepared his kit. All they need is the green signal from the NCA.
“The selection committee is waiting for the NCA’s fitness clearance report on Shami. He travelled to Bengaluru to give a fitness test. He played the Ranji Trophy as well as the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, where he looked good. His kit is also ready. We are just waiting for the approval from the NCA,” said BCCI official.
India’s desperation to have Shami back was understandable as the pace attack struggled in the ongoing Pink-ball test against Australia in Adelaide.
Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj went to pick four wickets each in Australia’s first innings where Head went on to score his eighth test century and Marnus Labuschagne smashed a fifty.
Meanwhile Former India head coach Ravi Shastri expressed concerns over India’s pace attack and said that the side will only be boosted by Shami’s return to the squad for the remaining three tests.
“The quicker he (Shami) reaches here, the better,” told Ravi Shastri during commentary.
Shami last played for India in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November at home. His last test was against Australia in WTC finals in June last year.
There is a little gap between the pink-ball test and third Tesst in Brisbane which starts on December 14. But it seem impossible for Shami to join Indian squad for the Brisbane Test, but if he receives NCA clearance, there will be a possiblity of Shami being available Boxing Day test in Melbourne.
