New Delhi: Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri and former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram have raised questions over the exclusion of Mohammed Shami in the team after India's two consecutive defeats in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022. India, the defending champions, are currently struggling in the T20 tournament after back-to-back defeats in the Asia Cup Super-4 stage matches and have already been virtually knocked out of the tournament.
India were first defeated by Pakistan by five wickets on Sunday and then by Sri Lanka by six wickets on Tuesday. Pakistan will clash against Afghanistan tonight and if the Men in Green pull off another win, India for sure will be eliminated from Asia Cup 2022. Meanwhile, cricket veterans Shastri and Akram discussed the lack of fast bowlers in Team India and also lashed out at team India's 'selection'.
Ravi Shastri was 'baffled' with selectors for not considering Mohammad Shami for Asia Cup 2022. Despite Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel being injured, Shami was ignored for Asia Cup 2022. The senior pacer had a good outing in IPL 2022 as he picked wickets at will with the new ball for title winners Gujarat Titans.
"When you need to win, you got to prepare better. I think the selection could have been better, especially for the fast bowlers. You know the conditions here. There's not much in it for the spinner. I was quite surprised that you came here with just four fast bowlers (including Hardik). You needed that extra one… someone like Mohammed Shami sitting at home and cooling his heels baffles me. After the IPL he had, for him not to be able to make the cut is... Obviously, I'm seeing something different," Ravi Shasri said on Star Sports after India's six-wicket loss against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Wasim Akram, who has been vouching for Shami's inclusion in India's T20I squad since the beginning of Asia Cup, asked Shastri: "Does a coach have input in selecting the team?"
"Shastri replied by saying,"He does. He's not part of the selection. he can contribute by saying 'this is the combination we want' then it's up to the captain in the meeting to take that forward. When I say planning... There should have been one extra fast bowler. One spinner less in the 15-16. You don't wanna be caught situation where one guy has a fever and then you have no one else to play. You have to play another spinner which can be embarrassing in the end."