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Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami - (Source: AFP)
India speedster Mohammed Shami has been one of the biggest talking points in the past couple of days. The right-arm seamer failed to make the cut in India’s squad for upcoming New Zealand Tests and ODIs.
After Ajit Agarkar’s tenure ended, there were reports that Shami might be reconsidered for the national team. However, the interim chief selector Pragyan Ojha too overlooked the Bengal seamer, who recently picked a five-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy opener.
Several reports stated that the selectors have overlooked him because of his fitness and inability to bowl longer spells. In the latest events, former India cricketer turned analyst Mohammed Kaif has come out in Shami’s defence and called for better treatment.
Mohammed Kaif Calls For Better Transparency Within The System
Mohammed Kaif called for transparency within the system, where a player should be communicated better that he is no longer within the scheme of things.
"I've heard that the selectors have moved on from him. These days, nobody says anything directly. When a team is selected, all you get is a letter informing you that the team has been finalised. That's it. You can check your email. There are no public statements, no question-and-answer sessions," Kaif said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.
"No selector or BCCI official comes forward to explain the reasons behind a decision. There has to be transparency. Now, if we talk about Mohammed Shami, he is a proven World Cup performer. Had Mohammed Shami not been there in the 2023 World Cup, India would not have reached the World Cup final," he added.
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Mohammed Kaif Cites Jasprit Bumrah Example To Defend Mohammed Shami
Kaif cited Jasprit Bumrah as an example, who bowled short spells in England and was carefully managed in the five-match Test series in 2025, which India drew 2-2.
"I read somewhere that he is not being selected because he is bowling only short spells. Jasprit Bumrah also bowls short spells; he gets a break after that. In England, when his workload was being managed, Shubman Gill had to manage him with short spells. So, if Shami is bowling short spells what is the issue with that? He can do his job with short spells as well," Kaif concluded.
Following India’s snub, Mohammed Shami was also rested for Bengal’s ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Services.
