Shami’s participation in Border-Gavaskar Trophy depends on NCA report

BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that the decision on pacer Mohammed Shami’s participation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia later this year will be taken after the selectors get his fitness report from National Cricket Academy.

World Test champions Australia will host India for a high-profile five-match Test series, starting in November.

Shami is making significant strides in his recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him out of cricket since the ODI World Cup last November. He is on track to get back in the Indian team for the two-Test series against Bangladesh next month.

Shami is currently in the final stages of his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru. He resumed bowling last month for the first time since his surgery and has been gradually increasing his bowling workload.

“Shami playing the Australia series or not is a matter of his fitness and a decision will be taken after the NCA report,” Shah told ANI.

Along with Jasprit Bumrah, Shami is one of India’s preferred fast bowlers across formats.

Prior to India’s departure for the tour of Sri Lanka in July, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed Shami has started bowling and indicated that the first Test against Bangladesh starting on September 19 in Chennai would be the goal for his comeback.