Bhuvneshwar Kumar called in as replacement
New Delhi: Pacer Mohammad Shami on Friday was ruled out of India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, raising doubts about his participation in the marqee ICC World Twenty20 that follows the continental tournament.
Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named as replacement for Shami by the selection committe.
After a long injury layoff, post last year’s World Cup, Shami was recalled to the national squad for the tour Down Under, only to be ruled out again by a hamstring injury.
“The BCCI medical team confirms that Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of Asia Cup, 2016. The decision has been taken to give him more time to recover from the Grade II injury to his left hamstring,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said in a statement.
Shami had not proved his fitness at the time of the announcement of the squad, on February 5, for the two tournaments.
Despite the lack of match practice, the selectors had indicated their willingness in waiting for Shami to recover, with Sandeep Patil, the chairman of selectors, saying that he hoped to test his match fitness during the Asia Cup. “We have good time for making a call on Shami. He has been one of our best bowlers. He has recovered, he has started bowling. That’s what I can say at the moment,” Patil had said while picking the squad for the Asia Cup and the World T20.
Before the departure for Australia, India captain MS Dhoni had also insisted Shami was part of his plans for the World T20, which for India begins against New Zealand in Nagpur on March 15.
Shami’s last international outing was during the World Cup, when he played through injury and pain, after which he underwent surgery and then rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He was then named among the 30 probables for a preparatory camp ahead of the South Africa series in October, but could not regain full fitness for the international matches. (Agencies)