Key Highlights:
- BCCI official disputes Mohammed Shami’s claims of no communication, revealing selectors were “desperate” to include him in England Test series
- Shami reportedly declined India A tour opportunity in England, citing need to build workload gradually
- Despite 15 wickets in three Ranji Trophy matches, concerns persist over Shami’s bowling speed (130 kmph) and ability to handle Test match demands
Opening Overview
Mohammed Shami finds himself at the center of a brewing controversy as the Board of Control for Cricket in India pushes back against the veteran pacer’s narrative of being ignored by selectors. A senior BCCI official has disputed Mohammed Shami’s recent claims of communication breakdown, revealing that the selection committee was actually “desperate” to secure his services for India’s Test tour of England earlier this year. The 35-year-old pacer, who last represented India in March 2025, has been vocal about the lack of dialogue from team management regarding his continued omission from national squads.
However, the BCCI‘s version of events paints a starkly different picture, one that includes multiple outreach attempts and concerns over Mohammed Shami’s physical readiness to withstand the rigors of international cricket. This revelation comes as Mohammed Shami was once again overlooked for the two-match Test series against South Africa at home, despite his impressive performances in domestic cricket.​
The Communication Controversy
Mohammed Shami has publicly stated his frustration over the absence of communication from national selectors and team management. According to a senior BCCI official speaking to media outlets, this narrative does not reflect the complete truth. The official revealed that “there have been multiple times that national selectors and support staff from the BCCI Centre of Excellence have called to check on Shami”. The selection committee, led by chairman Ajit Agarkar, was particularly keen to secure Mohammed Shami’s services during India’s five-match Test series in England between June and August 2025.​
The BCCI official emphasized the selection panel’s eagerness by stating, “The selection committee was desperate to get his services in England as Jasprit Bumrah could not have played more than three Tests. Who wouldn’t want a bowler of his calibre in English conditions?”. To assess Mohammed Shami’s Test match fitness, selectors requested him to participate in tour games involving India A and England Lions in either Canterbury or Northampton. This opportunity was designed as a crucial fitness evaluation ahead of the England series, where Mohammed Shami’s experience would have been invaluable given his proven record in English conditions.​
However, Mohammed Shami reportedly declined this opportunity, responding that “he still needs to build his workload and shouldn’t be considered for the assignment”. The official further clarified that “the narrative that there was no communication with Shami isn’t an absolute truth. The sports science team also has his medical reports and whether his body will be able to take the rigours of international cricket”. The current selection committee comprises Ajit Agarkar as chairman, along with Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra, R.P. Singh, and Pragyan Ojha, who were appointed during the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting on September 28, 2025.​
Fitness Concerns and Performance Analysis
The debate surrounding Mohammed Shami extends beyond communication issues to fundamental questions about his physical capacity for Test cricket. Mohammed Shami underwent successful surgery on his Achilles tendon on February 26, 2024, for a heel problem that had troubled him since India’s 2023 ODI World Cup campaign. The surgery required a minimum three-month recovery period, sidelining him from the 2024 Indian Premier League and subsequent international assignments.​ Despite returning to domestic cricket through the Ranji Trophy, concerns remain about Mohammed Shami’s bowling workload and speed. In his three appearances for Bengal in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, Mohammed Shami has bowled 93 overs and claimed 15 wickets.
His performances included impressive figures of 7 wickets for 75 runs in the first match against Uttarakhand and 8 wickets for 82 runs in the second match against Gujarat. However, observers have noted that Mohammed Shami has not been bowling long spells for Bengal, typically restricting himself to four-over spells with multiple breaks during a day’s play.​The BCCI’s medical and sports science team has been monitoring Mohammed Shami closely, with access to his detailed medical reports.
A critical concern centers on his bowling speed, which has been hovering around 130 kilometers per hour, significantly lower than his peak velocity of 135-140 kmph. At 35 years of age, with a history of knee issues requiring surgery a decade ago in addition to his recent Achilles tendon procedure, there are apprehensions that Mohammed Shami could break down mid-series if exposed to the physical demands of Test cricket. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has publicly supported Mohammed Shami, stating he doesn’t “see any reason why Shami can’t keep playing for India,” but the selection committee appears to be taking a more cautious approach.​
Selection Committee’s Perspective and Squad Decisions
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced India’s 15-member Test squad for the two-match series against South Africa on November 4, 2025, with Mohammed Shami’s name conspicuously absent. The squad features Shubman Gill as captain, Rishabh Pant as vice-captain and wicketkeeper, along with pace options including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep. This marked yet another instance where Mohammed Shami’s was overlooked despite his domestic performances.​
The selection committee’s decision appears rooted in legitimate concerns about Mohammed Shami’s ability to handle Test match requirements. Key questions remain unanswered: How many overs can he bowl in one spell during a day’s play? Can he take the field without breaks after each spell? Will his body withstand the demands of back-to-back Test matches?. These are not trivial considerations, particularly given that Mohammed Shami has played 64 Test matches in his career, accumulating 229 Test wickets at an average of 27.58, making him one of India’s premier fast bowlers.​
Mohammed Shami’s personal coach, Mohammed Badruddin, has expressed strong opposition to the BCCI’s stance, stating, “It’s clear they are ignoring him. I can’t think of any other reason. He is not unfit. When a player takes 15 wickets in two matches, how can he be unfit?”. Badruddin further alleged that the selection committee had predetermined its decision not to include Mohammed Shami, criticizing the approach of selecting Test squads based on formats other than red-ball cricket. However, the BCCI maintains that its decision is based on comprehensive medical data and a realistic assessment of Mohammed Shami’s current physical capabilities.​
The Road Ahead for International Comeback
Mohammed Shami’s international career statistics speak to his caliber as a match-winner across formats. With 206 ODI wickets from 108 matches, 229 Test wickets from 64 matches, and 27 T20I wickets from 25 matches, Mohammed Shami has been a cornerstone of India’s pace attack for over a decade. His last international appearance came during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where he led India’s bowling attack and achieved a milestone by becoming the fastest bowler to 200 ODI wickets.​
The veteran pacer has skipped Bengal’s fourth-round Ranji Trophy match but is expected to be available for the home match against Assam at Kalyani starting November 16, followed by participation in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. These upcoming domestic assignments provide Mohammed Shami with additional opportunities to demonstrate sustained fitness and bowling prowess ahead of the IPL 2025 auctions in December.​
The emergence of younger fast bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep has intensified competition for pace bowling spots in India’s Test squad. With the next ODI World Cup scheduled for 2027, when Mohammed Shami will be 37 years old, his window for international cricket appears to be narrowing. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Mohammed Shami can address the BCCI’s fitness concerns and force his way back into national selection calculations.​
Final Perspective
The Mohammed Shami saga represents a complex intersection of athletic capability, medical science, and selection strategy. While Muhammed Shami’s domestic performances demonstrate his continued wicket-taking ability, the BCCI’s caution reflects the harsh realities of modern cricket’s physical demands on aging fast bowlers. The discrepancy between Mohammed Shami’s public statements and the BCCI’s account raises important questions about transparency and communication protocols between cricket boards and players. Both parties appear to have legitimate concerns, Mohammed Shami about his career trajectory and the BCCI about potential mid-series breakdowns that could jeopardize team performance.
As Mohammed Shami continues his domestic cricket journey, the coming weeks will reveal whether he can comprehensively address speed, stamina, and workload concerns that currently keep him out of national contention. The Indian cricket ecosystem would undoubtedly benefit from having a bowler of Mohammed Shami’s international pedigree available for selection, but only if his body can genuinely withstand the rigors that Test cricket demands.
