New Delhi: Mohammed Shami would return to the Indian team in Australia only when he receives the go-ahead from the National Cricket Academy, clarified Rohit Sharma as questions swirl over the pacer’s fitness.
Rohit had earlier cast doubts over Shami’s fitness after reports surfaced of his knee swelling up after returning to domestic cricket action for Bengal.
Shami was on the sidelines after undergoing a knee surgery and hasn’t played for the national team since India’s ODI World Cup final loss to Australia.
As the Indian pacers save Jasprit Bumrah have struggled to make a mark in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, many have suggested inclusion of star seamer Shami into the team.
Rohit had doubted his fitness earlier and despite Shami playing regularly in domestic cricket, the Indian skipper remains unconvinced, insisting on the NCA to provide information regarding his status.
‘Need an update’
“It’s high time somebody from NCA talks about him. Really, that’s our National Cricket Academy where he is doing his rehab. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update,” Rohit said on Wednesday.
“But look, I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home. But there have been some complaints about his knee as well. So, the last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens.
“So, there’s no way we want to take that chance. Unless we are not 100%, 200% sure, we are not going to take any risk,” he added.
The 34-year-old Shami had developed swelling in the knee before the home Test series against New Zealand while there have been reports of similar occurrence in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“Like I said in the last press conference, the door is open. If those guys at the NCA feel that he is okay to go and recover and play, we’ll be happy to have him,” Rohit said.
Mohammed Shami was on the sidelines after undergoing a knee surgery and hasn’t played for the national team since India’s ODI World Cup final loss to Australia. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
