Mohammad Shami, lead India pacer, has been given strict guidelines and requirements by the BCCI medical team if he wants to convince the BCCI selectors and fly to India for the ongoing BGT 2024 Test series.
Shami made his return to competitive cricket after spending a year out of the game due to ankle surgery and then a setback with knee issues during his rehab at the NCA. He made his return to cricket in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal and played one game, taking 7 wickets to help his team win.
Shami is reportedly being heavily monitored by the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) medical team. After his Ranji Trophy return, Shami is being closely watched in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 Trophy matches.
Reports also stated that the BCCI medical team wants him to shed more weight to build up endurance.
"What one needs to see is when he can let go of the dependency on the BCCI's medical team, which is treating him after every spell he is bowling. The medical team feels he will start losing weight as he keeps playing matches, which will help build his endurance. Since the Ranji Trophy leg is over, the first round of SMAT matches have been kept as a makeshift yardstick,” a BCCI source told Times of India.
According to the report, Shami's training and recovery routines will be overseen by BCCI's head of sports science Nitin Patel, and National Cricket Academy (NCA) trainer Nishant Bordoloi while he is with the Bengal team.
Shami's SMAT matches began on November 23, giving him ten days to show his fitness, according to the article. The article further states that Shami may not be pushed back to cricket with the ICC Champions Trophy in February in mind.
"Bowling two-over spells in T20 matches in SMAT isn't the ideal parameter. Maintaining intensity in a high-profile Test series is a different ball game. There is a chance he could be sent to train with Team India if he clears the SMAT challenge, but to play him will be a good call. The selectors are also wary about the Champions Trophy in February," said the source.
If Shami manages to regain his fitness and proves the same to the BCCI medical team, he may be asked to fly to Australia to join the Indian team. And he could feature in the third Test in Brisbane, which begins on December 14.
