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Sourav Ganguly has called for Mohammed Shami to be rushed out to Australia for the upcoming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ranji Trophy 2024: Bengal’s Mohammed Shami against Madhya Pradesh (PTI)
India pacer Mohammed Shami made a successful return from injury in the Ranji Trophy as he bowled 43.2 overs, took seven wickets and made a quickfire 36 runs in Bengal’s win over Madhya Pradesh.
Shami has been battling an ankle injury ever since playing a key role in India’s run to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final on home soil last year.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has called for Shami to be rushed out to Australia for the upcoming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Yeah, I will send him to Australia. He doesn’t need to play the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. I’ll send him to Australia, even if he misses the Perth Test. He keeps bowling, he should be on the flight, he has bowled today as well. He should be on the next flight to Australia,” Ganguly was quoted as saying to RevSportz.
Earlier, former coach Ravi Shastri also backed the idea of rushing Shami to play a part in the series Down Under.
“If anything, I would have wanted a little more support for Jasprit (Bumrah) in the pace-bowling attack,” Shastri told host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review when quizzed about the make-up of the India squad in Australia.
“So the quicker Mohammed Shami gets fit and is on a flight, I think it’s better for India.”
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Shami has not been named in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy the pacer’s childhood coach Mohammed Badruddin hopes to him to be in Australia.
“He will be joining the Indian team after the Adelaide (second) Test. Now that he is back, proved his fitness, picked up wickets, he will be crucial for the team in the second half of the tour,” Badruddin was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Ganguly also named Prasidh Krishna as partner for Jasprit Bumrah ahead of Akash Deep in the first Test in Perth.
“He (Shami) may miss the Perth Test, but that will be bowling friendly conditions. I think Prasidh will play ahead of Akash Deep, because of the height and conditions. So, Shami should be on the flight and should be ready to play the Adelaide Test,” said Ganguly.
