Mohammed Shami Likely to Return for India in England White-Ball Series : Reports

Senior Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami is readying to return to the national team for the upcoming white ball series against England and possibly the 2024 Champions Trophy. Shami, who has been out of action since the 2023 World Cup final surgery on his right heel has recently started playing white ball cricket again, as reported by Cricbuzz.

Mohammed Shami played for Bengal in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinal match against Baroda in Bengaluru. Although his international cricket return is pending BCCI and National Cricket Academy (NCA) clearance, he is almost fully fit and likely to return soon.

The NCA medical team closely monitored Shami's recovery after the heel surgery. He made good progress but was held back by a minor knee issue, keeping him out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But his recent performances for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy have been encouraging. He will face a key test in his next match, against Haryana in the pre-quarterfinal, with Indian selectors expected to watch his performance closely.

The BCCI has put Mohammed Shami under close NCA physios supervision who have been tracking his progress during domestic matches, as has been seen when he played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in Rajkot. Recently, Shami and Hardik Pandya have undergone training under an NCA physio in Hyderabad.

Selectors Await Final Clearance for Shami’s Return

Initial impressions from Shami’s domestic outings show he is bowling without any discomfort. His final clearance from the NCA is still pending, but there is a positive sign that he is ready to go back to the Indian team. The selectors are likely to take a call after watching his performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts. If everything goes as planned, Shami might be in the squad for the England series and the Champions Trophy later this year.

On the other hand pacer Akash Deep who was part of the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is unlikely to play in the white ball series against England. He left the fifth Test in Sydney with back pain and is expected to be out for at least a month. Akash Deep will continue his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru once he returns to India.