Mohammed Shami ruled out of Australia tour for Border-Gavaskar Trophy as BCCI deems him 'not fit'

India pace bowler Mohammed Shami has been ruled out for the remaining two Tests against Australia due to fitness concerns, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Following the conclusion of the Gabba Test, India captain Rohit Sharma expressed the need for the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to provide an update on Shami's condition.

Shami returned to competitive cricket after playing for Bengal in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. He later played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match as well. However, fans and cricket pundits were shocked when Shami was not asked to travel to Australia.

The BCCI finally issued an update on Shami on Monday evening, detailing the entire sequence of events.

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,” the BCCI said in an official release.

“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,” the release added.

Shami's knee requires more healing time

The Indian Cricket Board has also stated that Shami's knee will take some more time to recover, and his further participation for Bengal in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on how his recovery progresses.

“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,” the BCCI said.

“Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee,” the board added.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma had told reporters that he is aware of Shami playing domestic matches but the uncertainty still remains regarding his recovery. He talked about swelling in Shami's knee.

Shami's last international match for India was the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Stay informed with the...