Mohammed Shami in IND vs AUS BGT: Senior Indian pacer Mohammed Shami's kit has already been dispatched to Australia, with only a fitness clearance from National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team remaining as a formality.
Shami is expected to be available for selection in the final two Tests of IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Following the second Test in Adelaide, the third Test is scheduled to start on December 14, though Shami's participation in that match remains uncertain.
However, it's almost certain that he will make his comeback in the fourth Test, set for December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"Shami’s India kit has already been dispatched to Australia. He will complete Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 assignment and then leave," news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.
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Mohammed Shami has been recovering from ankle surgery following an injury during the ODI World Cup in November 2023. Although he was expected to return to action in India's home Test series against New Zealand, a knee swelling delayed his comeback.
Shami eventually made his return to the field with Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Bengaluru. The NCA medical team, led by Dr. Nitin Patel and Strength and Conditioning trainer Nishant Bordoloi, will assess his fitness after Bengal's campaign in National T20 Championship concludes.
"Shami will be playing the pre-quarter final for us against Chandigarh. He will join us in Bengaluru by tomorrow. However, I am not sure if he will be available if we qualify for quarters or go the distance. Guess he will be fit and available for last two Australia Tests," Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who has had a good look at his premier bowler, told PTI.
Shami has shed around six kilograms of body weight.
"He has already shed around six kilograms of body weight. He has played seven T20 games in 13 days. If he plays pre-quarters it will be eight games in 16 days.
"Shami himself wanted to play fair amount of domestic cricket and inform NCA how his body reacts," Shukla, a former ODI player, told PTI.