Mohammed Shami's coach tears into Ajit Agarkar over "shameful" ODI snub
Mohammed Shami’s personal coach has launched a scathing attack on the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee over the veteran pacer’s omission from India’s 15-man squad for the ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11. Contrary to expectations, Shami was surprisingly left out despite a stunning show in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he has picked up 11 wickets in five matches for Bengal.
“What more can a player do?”
Speaking to India Today, Shami’s coach questioned what more the 35-year-old could do to force his way back into the national side.
“What more can a player do? How many more wickets should the player take?” Shami’s coach said, expressing frustration at the decision.
He also feared that this could signal the end of the road for Shami as far as the Indian ODI team is concerned.
“This means that they do not want him in the ODI team. He has a lot to give,” he added.
Bengal coach calls decision “shameful”
Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla also called out the selection committee, branding Shami’s exclusion an “injustice” and the decision “shameful.”
“The selection committee has done injustice with Mohammed Shami. No international player has played domestic cricket with as much dedication as Shami in the recent past. Even after toiling hard in domestic cricket, what the selection committee has done with Shami is shameful,” Shukla told Revsportz.
Shukla’s comments highlight the growing sentiment that Shami has done everything possible to prove his fitness and form, yet continues to be overlooked by the selectors.
Shami’s Vijay Hazare Trophy performances ignored
Shami had raised his selection hopes with impressive performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, BCCI’s premier 50-over domestic tournament. In five matches, he has taken 11 wickets, showcasing his match fitness and skill ahead of the New Zealand series.
However, his name was nowhere to be seen when the squad was announced on Saturday, leaving many wondering about the selectors’ rationale.
Pace attack without Shami and Bumrah
With veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah also rested as part of workload management ahead of the T20 World Cup, India’s pace attack for the New Zealand series comprises Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh, with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy being the fourth option.
Prasidh Krishna is also part of the squad, adding depth to the pace department.