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According to BCCI, Shami has completely recovered from this heel problem, but his knee still needs medical attention.
Mohammed Shami (Picture Credit: AP)
The BCCI medical team has provided a crucial update on the recovery of India fast bowler Mohammad Shami. The right-arm pacer hasn’t played international cricket since participating in the ODI World Cup last year. He was expected to return in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under after missing out on the New Zealand series at home. However, the Indian cricket board has confirmed that Shami ‘hasn’t been deemed fit’ to fly to Australia.
As per the BCCI’s statement, the medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has been working closely with Shami on his recovery and rehabilitation after his right heel surgery. Shami has completely recovered from this heel problem, but his knee still needs attention.
Shami bowled 43 overs in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in November. Following this, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he also engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume and prepare for the Test matches.
However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is expected, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period.
“Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” the BCCI statement read.
Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee.
