Mohammad Shami last played a Test for India in 2023 WTC final against Australia.
The Indian squad for the five-Test England series is likely to be announced on Saturday, May 24, but it has been learnt that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors are not keen on taking Mohammad Shami to the UK.
The BCCI medical team has notified the Indian board that the 34-year-old pacer will not be able to bowl for extended periods of time. His chances of participating in all five Test matches are also slim.
There were discussions of including Shami in a couple of games with the Indian squad. The selection committee was understood to be struggling with whether to send out a similarly dubious bowler who might only play a few games, as Jasprit Bumrah had previously informed the board that his body could not handle the strain of more than three Test matches. It also interferes with the Indian side's planning.
It is understood that selectors want fit bowlers flying with the Indian side, who can bowl longer spells if needed.
“Shami is bowling four overs in IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but the board and selectors don’t know whether he can bowl more than 10 overs in a day. Test matches in England may demand longer spells from the pacer and we can’t take chances,” a source in the board informed the Indian Express.
Shami’s last Test match appearance came during the 2023 India vs Australia World Test Championship final at the Oval.
Shami had undergone ankle surgery in 2024, which halted his cricket for nearly a year. He made his comeback earlier this year through the T20 format and was later part of Champions Trophy too.
If Shami is not picked, then that leaves the spot open for someone like Arshdeep Singh or Anshul Kamboj. Given that he played for Kent in county cricket the previous season, Arshdeep might be the dark horse. Due to his trip to England, Kamboj was already selected by the selection committee for the India A team.
The five-man committee is expected to meet in a few days when they will officially announce their new captain for Test cricket.