Mohammed Shami’s chances of playing in the Border Gavaskar Trophy hangs in the balance. The BCCI Medical team now faces a race against time to prepare Shami to reach 100% fitness within the next 10 days. The BCCI’s medical team has been traveling with the speedster to keep a constant check to see when Shami becomes perfectly ready to take part in International matches.
Mohammed Shami returned to cricket after a long spell of absence. He recently played a Ranji Trophy match for Bengal where he managed to scalp 7 wickets against Madhya Pradesh. And now the next assignment for Shami would be the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The team wants Shami to lose some weight in time to be fit for his international game.
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Race against time for Shami to be fit
“The Indian team management wanted him to ideally play a couple of first-class matches before taking a call on his participation in the five-Test series in Australia. Since the Ranji Trophy first leg is over, the first round of SMAT matches has been kept as a makeshift yardstick. The medical team feels he will start losing weight as he keeps playing matches that will help him build his endurance,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.
According to reports Shami needs to be fit within 10 days to become available for selection for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. But as things stand Shami continues to be dependent on the the medical team. After each of his spells, the medical team has been constantly keeping a check on the speedster.
“Shami too has been very careful. His bowling skills are never in doubt. He is clocking 135 kmph and above consistently. But one needs to be seen is that when he can let go of the dependency on BCCI’s medical team which is treating him after every spell that he is bowling. They are checking if his knees are swelling up again,” the source added.
As things stand, Shami will take part in the SMAT. But it is not ideal given Shami needs to be ready for the long haul. And playing T20 cricket which comprises 4 overs won’t make the cut. Over his recovery period, Shami has grown a bit of weight, which he and the medical team plan on cutting down the earliest.
“Bowling two-over spells in T20 matches in SMAT isn’t the ideal parameter. To maintain intensity in high-profile Test series is a different ball game. There is a chance he could be sent to train with the Indian team if he clears the SMAT challenge but to play him will be a good call. The selectors are also wary about the ICC Champions Trophy in Feb,” the source concluded.
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