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Mohammed Shami refusing to play England Tests hurt his comeback plans? BCCI reveals
Mohammed Shami has bowled a lot in the Ranji Trophy, but it is unlikely that he will be seen wearing the whites for the national side, and his possibility of wearing ODI colours are also weak.
Last Updated on - November 10, 2025 1:37 PM IST
Mohammed Shami may have already bowled 93 overs in the ongoing Ranji Trophy but it is unlikely that one of India’s finest pacers will be seen donning the whites again and his chances of wearing the ODI blues also look bleak. The 35-year-old last played for India in the Champions Trophy in March but since then, he hasn’t been picked in any format.
Mohammed Shami had endured a lengthy layoff from the game after the heel injury in 2023 which required surgery after the World Cup. At this point, the direction in which Indian cricket is moving, it is unlikely that Shami will be adding more games to the 197 internationals that he has played across three formats.
Mohammed Shami has fallen off the radar in both Test and T20I cricket where Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep have rapidly gone up the ladder. The only format seemingly left for him is ODI. But given that the next one-day World Cup is in 2027, it wouldn’t be particularly prudent to travel with a 37-year-old with a history of career-threatening injuries, including a knee problem.
Mohammed Shami has not exactly been pleased with the national selectors, and has even gone on record to say that they have not communicated with him. However, sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) say that it may not be the correct picture.
“There have been multiple times that national selectors and support staff from the BCCI Centre of Excellence have called to check on Shami. The selection committee was desperate to get his services in England as Jasprit Bumrah could not have played more than three Tests. Who wouldn’t want a bowler of his caliber in English conditions?,” a senior board official told PTI.
It is learnt that one of the senior members of the selection panel sent multiple messages to Mohammed Shami enquiring about his fitness status and requesting him to play at least one India A game against England Lions in either Canterbury or Northampton. This was in order to check where the pacer stands with regards to Test-match fitness for the five-match England series.
“So the narrative that there was no communication with Shami isn’t an absolute truth. The sports science team also has his medical reports and whether his body will be able to take the rigours of international cricket,” the senior official further added.