The BCCI has revealed that Indian pacer Mohammed Shami will not be considered for the fourth and fifth test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
The board press release on Shami’s fitness comes after Rohit Sharma called NCA to provide an update on the fast bowler’s progress upon being asked once again about it at the end of the Brisbane Test.
“Shami bowled 43 overs in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in November,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“Following this, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he also engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume in order to get ready for the Test matches.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) December 23, 2024
“However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period.
“Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI medical team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads.
“Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”
Shami has not played for Indian since the ODI World Cup finals in 2023. He underwent a heel surgery in February and continued his rehabilitation before returning to competitive cricket for Ranji Trophy.
With being anticipated for his return for BGT 2025, the news has disappointed fans completely. Shami was not included in Bengal’s squad for the first game of the Vijay Hazare 2024-25 and his participation in the tournament will depend upon the state of his knee.
The third match of the BGT ended in draw after the rain spoiled the game on day 05 and both sides have one victory each. The fourth match of the Australia-India tests will be played beginning on December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
