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"They are ignoring him": Shami's personal coach targets Agarkar-led selection committee

Aashay Chopade

Mohammed Shami in Test cricket (Source: AFP)Mohammed Shami in Test cricket (Source: AFP)

Mohammed Shami has not played for India since Champions Trophy 2025 and last played a Test match in 2023. The injury-prone nature of his body has been an issue, but the cricketer has played three Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal recently and has proved his fitness.

Mohammed Shami's coach calls fitness an excuse of selectors

However, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar continues to talk about Shami's need to prove his fitness. Thus, there are now speculations that selectors have already decided to move on from Shami, and his chances of playing for India are bleak.

Now, Mohammed Shami's personal coach, Mohammed Badruddin, has also blamed the selectors for ignoring the star bowler. He stated that Shami is not unfit and has taken 15 wickets, so it is clear that the selectors' agenda is clear.

"My thought is simple — they are ignoring him, that’s clear. There’s no other reason that makes sense to me. He’s not unfit — when a player is playing Test matches, taking 15 wickets in two games, then he doesn’t look unfit from anywhere. I don’t think he’s unfit," said Badruddin to India Today.

Badruddin emphasises on Shami's usefulness to keep Bumrah fresh

Badruddin mentioned that the selectors are just overlooking him, and the reason for the same can be explained by the decision-makers. He added that Mohammed Shami should have been picked in the squad against South Africa, as selectors need to look after Bumrah's workload as well. So, according to Badruddin, selectors could have used Mohammed Shami for rotation.

"The selectors are just overlooking him, that’s it. Why they are doing that, only they can say. But I really thought he would be picked for this series, because it’s in India and only two fast bowlers will play anyway. Still, he should have been in the squad. That would’ve helped reduce Bumrah’s workload — because Bumrah can’t play three-and-a-half Tests in a row. They should’ve kept Shami for rotation, that’s what I feel."

Thus, Mohammed Shami's coach has made it clear that selectors have made an error by not selecting the star bowler. He has also questioned selectors' fitness logic, and it would be interesting to see how Shami's future in international cricket pans out.