In a major boost for the Indian national cricket team, the veteran right-arm fast Muhammad Shami will soon join the Test squad in Australia for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
According to the latest report, Mohammed Shami is likely to partner Jasprit Bumra in the fourth test serieswhich will be held from December 26 this year at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Mohammed Shami’s collection sent to Australia
According to PTI, Shami will be available for the last two Test matches of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His package has been sent down and the pacer will leave for Australia soon.
Mohammed Shami, who received an outstanding fitness certificate from the NCA medical team, is now just a “matter of formality” as the right-arm pacer is fully fit to compete.
“Shami’s India squad has already been sent to Australia. He will complete the Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 assignment and then leave.” news PTI agency reported citing a source.
The next evening will see Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 quarter-final against Chandigarh in Bangalore on Monday, December 9. The final of the domestic T20 competition is scheduled to be held on December 15. Meanwhile, Shami will travel to Australia after completing the SMAT course.
As the preliminary quarter-final match is in Bengaluru, Shami will be assessed by NCA medical team leader Dr Nitin Patel and strength and conditioning coach Nishant Bordoloi after the match.
He (Shami) has already shed about six kilos of body weight – Bengal Head Coach
Speaking about Shami, Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla said he was not aware of the pacer’s participation in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after the preliminary quarter-finals.
“Shami will play for us in the pre-quarterfinal match against Chandigarh. He will join us in Bengaluru by tomorrow. However, I am not sure if he will be available whether we qualify for the quarters or go the distance. .Think he will be fit and available for Australia’s last two Tests,” Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla told PTI.
Shukla further revealed that Shami has lost 6 kg of body weight and has played a lot of cricket in a short span of time, which shows that his body is ready to take on the workload of Test cricket.
“He (Shami) has already lost about six kilos of body weight. He played seven T20 matches in 13 days. If he plays in the preliminary quarter, it will be eight games in 16 days. Shami himself wanted to play a fair amount of domestic cricket and let the NCA know how his body is reacting,” Shukla said.
Mohammed Shami has been playing regularly since his return to cricket
Mohammad Shami, who has been out of action since November 2023, made his return to cricket on November 13 in the Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
He did well in the game and took 7 wickets in two innings without any fitness issues. After that, he played in 7 consecutive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches against Punjab, Hyderabad, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Bihar and Rajasthan.
In all these matches Shami gave decent performances but the biggest development was that he did not feel any problem in his body.
