Mohammed Shami Fires Back at Selectors: Veteran Pacer Registers 4/13 in SMAT Amid India Snub
Senior India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has sent an undeniable, thunderous message to the national selection committee and the team management, headed by Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, with a phenomenal bowling display in domestic cricket.
The performance comes amidst increasing criticism of India’s current pace attack and repeated questions from fans and former players regarding Shami’s continued exclusion from all three formats since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Mohammed Shami: The Performance of A Dominant Spell in SMAT
Playing for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 match against Services in Hyderabad on Thursday, the 34-year-old pacer delivered a match-winning spell that showcased his trademark accuracy, control, and wicket-taking ability:
-
Figures: 4 wickets for just 13 runs in 3.2 overs.
-
Impact: Shami struck in his very first over, removing both Services openers, to shatter the top order. He later returned to clean up the tail, ensuring Services were bowled out for 165.
-
Result: Bengal cruised to a convincing seven-wicket victory, with Shami being named the Player of the Match.
This superb T20 performance follows his solid run in earlier Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal, where he had been consistently amongst the wickets, returning figures like a seven-wicket match haul against Uttarakhand and a five-wicket haul against Gujarat.
The Fitness Furore and Lack of Experience
Shami’s absence from the national team has been a point of contention. The official reason cited by the selection committee for his initial exclusion was his ongoing issues with fitness and match workload management, particularly following his ankle injury post the 2023 World Cup.
However, Shami’s consistent presence and stellar results in the domestic circuit have sharply contradicted the selectors’ narrative, with the pacer himself previously stating:
“If there is a fitness issue, I shouldn’t be here playing for Bengal. Let him [Agarkar] say whatever he wants. You have seen how I bowled. It is all in front of your eyes.”
This latest performance comes at a time when:
-
Current Pace Attack Under Fire: The young pacers selected for the recent series, particularly the ODI matches against South Africa, have struggled for consistency and have been expensive, leading to calls for the inclusion of an experienced head.
-
Experts Demand Inclusion: Former India cricketers, including Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Kaif, have publicly questioned the selection panel’s decision to sideline Shami, especially when Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are often rested. Harbhajan Singh asked: “Where is Shami? I don’t know why he is not playing… You had good bowlers, and you have slowly sidelined them.”
With the T20 World Cup approaching next year and India’s pace options lacking a proven, all-format performer besides Bumrah, Shami’s sensational return to form puts immense pressure on Agarkar and Gambhir to either justify his continued exclusion or integrate the veteran back into the squad.
Also read:-South Africa Win High-Octane 2nd ODI to Level Series
Follow us:-Pentoday | Facebook
