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"What’s the plan going forward?": Pujara urges BCCI to have honest conversation with Shami

Harsh Adwani

Cheteshwar Pujara defends Mohammed Shami [Source: @pabnaindia/x.com]Cheteshwar Pujara defends Mohammed Shami [Source: @pabnaindia/x.com]

Mohammed Shami continues to be overlooked by the Indian selectors for a spot in the Test team. Despite proving his fitness and match readiness, he has not played a game for India since the World Test Championship Final in 2023. Now, former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has come to his defence and has urged the team management to be honest with him about his future. 

Speaking to the media ahead of the first India vs South Africa Test in Kolkata, Pujara said that the management needs to be clear with the pacer about his place in the team in the future. He believes Shami should know if young pacers are going to be preferred over him. 

“Someone like Mohammed Shami should be having – I mean, the selectors and the team management should have a very honest conversation with him. What’s the plan going forward? Whether they want to pick him or whether they are looking at the young players," said Pujara.

He added that if Shami is given the clarity of his place in the team, he can make an informed decision on whether or not to continue playing first-class cricket. However, Pujara believes he wouldn't quit cricket altogether because the pacers also plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

He added, “If he is being informed that they are not looking at him, then it is always Shami’s personal call whether he wants to carry on playing first-class cricket, whether he still wants to – I mean, he is part of the IPL as well. So, he would want to carry on playing cricket. The communication from the team management has to be very, very clear and it should be very honest conversation and Shami should be part of it."

Shubman Gill weighs in on Shami being overlooked in Test squad

Meanwhile, Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill believes that while Shami is a great bowler, the performances of young bowlers like Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna can not be ignored. His comments indicated that Shmai is not in India's immediate plans for the Test side. 

“There aren’t many bowlers of Shami bhai’s quality. But we can’t ignore performances from players like Akash Deep and Prasidh. Bumrah and Siraj are also doing well, as we’ve seen. 

Earlier, Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that the pacer's fitness was not up to the mark for him to be considered as an option. Shami has since picked up 15 wickets in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.