In a major blow, India pacer Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of Bangladesh ODIs, according to news agency PTI. The 33-year-old suffered a hand injury during a training session after which he didn’t leave for Bangladesh on December 1.
There is also a chance that he might be ruled out of the two match Test series against Bangladesh. His role in the Indian team had become even more crucial after injury to Jasprit Bumrah. In his absence, Shami is considered to be the de facto pace spearhead.
“Mohammed Shami has suffered a hand injury that he sustained after resuming training post T20 World Cup in Australia. He has been asked to report at the NCA and has not travelled with the team on December 1,” a senior BCCI source privy to development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“Shami’s absence from three ODI games is definitely a factor but bigger worry is his likely absence from Tests where he is supposed to spearhead the attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence,” said the source.
Shami would have been the most experienced pacer on Bangladesh tour which will also see the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli return to action. Moreover, he had a bigger role to fill in Test cricket where India are building up to the World Test Championship in June next year.
Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Umran Malik and Kuldeep Sen will form the pace attack for the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh.
The 33-year-old Shami is an integral part of India’s ODI scheme of things, going into the World Cup next year.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid would be worried if the Bengal speedster misses the Test series because India need to win every game to stay in contention for the upcoming World Test Championship final at the Oval in June.
“Shami’s absence from three ODI games is definitely a factor but bigger worry is his likely absence from Tests where he is supposed to spearhead the attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence,” said a BCCI source.
Shami has taken 216 wickets in Test cricket from 60 matches.
Umran Malik is one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket. He made his ODI debut recently in New Zealand where he played two games and claimed two wickets.
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