Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali said that Mohammed Shami should join Team India immediately for the third Test in Brisbane, which will begin on Saturday, December 14. Ali also said there would be no help if Shami played only the last two Tests since Australia have levelled the five-match series 1-1.
However, Shami didn’t make it to the India squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he wasn’t match fit earlier. And, he recently returned to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy after 360 days, picking up seven wickets against Madhya Pradesh as well.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel (via The Times of India): “We are getting news that Shami will be going but might play from the fourth Test. There won’t be any benefit if India plays Shami from the fourth Test. Send him now and play him the Brisbane Test. If you are calling him for Melbourne, then don’t call him at all. India need Shami now! Your pace attack needs Shami.”
However, India captain Rohit Sharma said that Mohammed Shami is being monitored by professionals as well.
- Mohammed Shami
He said in the post-match press conference (via ESPNcricinfo): “We want to be more than 100% sure with him because it has been a long time. We don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team. There are some professionals monitoring, we will take a call based on what those guys feel. They are the ones watching him every game, how he pulls up after the game, after bowling four overs, standing for 20 overs. But the door is open for him to come and play anytime.”
“We are just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mushtaq Ali, he got some swelling in his knee, which hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match. We want to be very careful, we don’t want to bring him here, he pulls up sore or something happens,” he further hai added.
