Bengal’s star pacer, Mohammad Shami will be rested for the opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The update is announced by CAB (Bengal Cricket Association) on Thursday. Bengal will kick off their campaign against Delhi at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. Shami recently returned successfully to professional cricket, playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and leading the team’s bowling attack in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
No Shami for BGT?
It seems the pacer might be dealing with an injury concern. If that’s the case, the Bengal pacer’s fate for the IND vs AUS Test series (BGT) will be sealed, dashing hopes of a comeback from the veteran in the series.
Shami is not fully fit, Rohit asks for update
Recently, India’s captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed indirectly that Shami is not totally fit. During the press conference after IND vs AUS Test in Brisbane, he called on the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to provide a clear update on Mohammed Shami’s rehabilitation progress.
“Regarding Shami, I believe it’s high time the NCA gives us an update on his condition and where he’s currently rehabbing,” Rohit said. The captain shown some concerns to Shami’s workload and recent knee issues. “I understand he’s been playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee. The last thing we want is for a player to arrive and pull out midway through a game. We all know the kind of impact such situations can have,” Rohit added.
No international cricket for more than a year
Shami hasn’t played any international cricket from more than one year. The pacer last donned the Indian Jersey during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he played the entire tournament despite carrying an injury. Following the event, the veteran pacer underwent ankle surgery in early 2024 and spent over three months recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
