Press Trust of India
New Delhi, Oct 27: Aware that the pace bowling cupboard is nearly bare, the Indian team management may not consider selecting Bengal pacer Mohammed Shami in the final two Tests against South Africa in Nagpur and Delhi next month. They would rather prefer him to be fully fit for next year’s ICC World T20.
Shami, who has undergone a knee surgery, is still recuperating and has started his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. He is around 60 per cent fit but will still take some time to attain full match fitness.
“I spoke to Shami sometime back and he said that he is now around 60-70 per cent fit. He is still not bowling at full tilt,” stated Shami’s childhood coach Badruddin Siddique here Tuesday.
“There is a possibility that he might be match-fit by the time of the final Test against South Africa in Delhi (starting December 3). But I heard that the team management has told him that they need him for Australia tour and World T20 next year and would not like to take any risk.
“Shami is confident that he will be 100 per cent match fit by the time the limited overs series is held in Australia in January. After that there is the big event, World T20. The feedback that he has got is that ‘we would be happy to get you during last Test but we can’t miss you for the World T20’,” Badruddin added.