"Mohammed Shami’s Body Is.." – Former BCCI Selector Gives Verdict On Pacer’s Team India Future

Mohammed Shami was a notable omission from the Indian squad announced Saturday by the BCCI for the five-Test tour of England. Shardul Thakur and Karun Nair were brought back into the fold, while Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh earned maiden call-ups.

After a long injury break, Shami returned to action last November and has been steadily building up his workload. Since then, he has featured in India’s white-ball games, including the 2025 Champions Trophy-winning campaign.

Why would selectors pick him?- Ex-BCCI selector on Mohammed Shami’s shortcomings

However, this latest snub reflects the team management’s concern that he hasn’t yet proven his body can handle the rigors of Test cricket.

According to a former India selector, Mohammed Shami's red-ball future may be all but over. If he’s unavailable for tours like Australia or England, where pace is crucial, why would selectors consider him for home matches later this year?

Mohammed Shami has reached the point of no return

“If Shami can't play in Australia or England, why would selectors pick him for series against West Indies or South Africa at home? Better to back Akash Deep, Arshdeep, Harshit, or Mukesh with Siraj or Bumrah. Shami’s body is ageing; he’s not the same bowler anymore," the ex-selector told PTI.

Since debuting in 2013, Mohammed Shami has taken 229 wickets across 64 Tests.

As per PTI, the BCCI’s Sports Science and Medical team assessed Shami in Lucknow recently and found that his body still isn’t ready to endure the load of bowling 15 to 20 overs daily.

Unfortunate that a bowler like him is…: BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar on Mohammed Shami

Selection chief Ajit Agarkar explained that although Shami had been preparing for the England series, his current fitness levels are not up to par.

“He’s been trying to get ready, but he had a minor setback last week and underwent some MRIs. Honestly, I don’t think he was going to be available for all five matches. His workload just isn’t there yet," Agarkar told the media in Mumbai on Saturday.

“It’s what the medical guys told us that he’s been ruled out of the series. Unfortunately, we were hoping that he’s available for some part of the series at least. But if he’s not fit at the moment, it’s very difficult to wait. It’s (the squad is) rather planned with the guys that are fit and available. So it’s unfortunate that a bowler like him will always want to try and pick by himself. At the moment, he’s not fit,” Agarkar signed off.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Gives A Huge Shock To BCCI Ahead Of India’s Tour To England