Shami out of Vijay Hazare opener due to knee concerns; BGT dreams are likely over!
Xtra Time Web Desk: Bengal pacer Mohammad Shami will miss the opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Delhi at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on Saturday. In an exclusive interaction, Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla confirmed that Shami is not fit for the opening match of Vijay Hazare Trophy and is being rested following instructions from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and the BCCI.
Shami’s fitness has been a recurring topic of discussion. Rohit Sharma addressed the pacer’s situation at the press conference after India drew the third Test against Australia in Brisbane. When asked about Shami's availability for the final two Tests, Rohit said, “About Shami, I think it's high time somebody from the NCA talks about him, where he is rehabbing. Those guys need to come up and give us some kind of update.”
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Rohit further elaborated, “The last thing we want is for a player to come here and then pull out in the middle of the game. Unless we are 200% sure about his fitness, we won’t take any risks. If the NCA clears him, we’ll welcome him back.”
Shami has been under close scrutiny since undergoing ankle surgery earlier this year. Despite showing signs of recovery and participating in several domestic games for Bengal, his knee issues have resurfaced. This has prompted the BCCI to adopt a cautious approach. Over the past month, Shami played one Ranji Trophy match and nine T20s in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he picked up nine wickets in 11 games with an economy rate of 7.85. However, reports of knee swelling during the T20 competition raised fresh concerns.
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Shami’s absence from the Vijay Hazare opener underscores the significance of his recovery for both Bengal and the national team. While fans eagerly await updates on his Test return during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it’s evident that both the BCCI and team management are prioritizing his long-term fitness over immediate availability.
