Jay Shah almost confirms Mohammed Shami's availability for Border-Gavaskar Series in Australia

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Mohammed Shami will be on the flight to Australia for India's five-match Test series starting November 22, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has almost confirmed. The 33-year-old's return to action has now become crucial as India gear up to play 10 Test matches between September and January.

The premier India pacer has been out of action after featuring in the 2023 World Cup final against Australia on November 19. The 33-year-old underwent surgery on his achilles tendon in February and has been rehabilitating since then.

He was expected to make a comeback in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, but the chances are really dim now after he was not named in any of the four squads for Duleep Trophy 2024.

Notably, the BCCI has made it necessary for all the players to play a domestic match after injury and then make a comeback in the Indian cricket team. The first Test against Bangladesh starts from September 19, and Shami will not be part of the first round of Duleep Trophy matches which starts from September 5.

“It’s difficult to say when I will be back,” Mohammed Shami recently said at a felicitation ceremony at East Bengal club in Kolkata.

Jay Shah 'confirms' Shami's participation in Australia Test series

However, BCCI president Jay Shah has almost confirmed that Shami will be part of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shah asserted that India would be needing the experience of Shami in Australia.

"Our team is already well prepared. We have rested Jasprit Bumrah for a while now. Mohammad Shami is expected to be fit too. This is an experienced Indian side now. Seniors like Rohit and Kohli are fit," he told Times of India when asked about India's preparation for the tour of Australia.

"Your question about Shami is right... he will be there because he is experienced, and we need him in Australia," Shah added.

Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehashish Ganguly also recently said Shami was eager to play in Australia.

“He wants to be on that tour,” Snehashish Ganguly, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president, said in an interaction on Monday. “But he has to play Ranji Trophy to prove himself.”

Earlier, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, has expressed hope that Shami would be part of the Test series against Bangladesh. “September 19 is the first Test and that was always the goal. I don’t know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that,” he had said before India’s departure for the tour of Sri Lanka in July.

India will play their second Test against Bangladesh from September 27, before a three-match T20I series starting October 6. A three-match Test series at home against New Zealand is also scheduled to start from October 16.