Former India pacer Zaheer Khan advised Mohammed Shami to stop thinking about how the team management views him and keep putting in the hard yards in domestic cricket. The 35-year-old Shami last played for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy and has been on the sidelines ever since. Time and time again, he has delivered strong performances for Bengal in domestic cricket, but the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has ignored them.
Last year, there was also a back-and-forth between Shami and Agarkar after the former was ignored for the West Indies Tests. The chairman of the selection committee said that Shami wasn’t picked because he wasn’t fit; however, Shami represented Bengal soon after this statement and fired shots, saying it was not his job to provide a fitness clearance to the selectors.
As Shami continues to remain on the fringes, Zaheer advised Shami not to focus on the uncontrollables and rather give consistent performances in domestic cricket.
“He has to continue doing what’s in his hands. It’s up to him to decide how he wants to go ahead. If he’s playing, it means he is available for the 2027 ODI World Cup. That’s how I see it, but I am not sure how the team management is looking at him,” Zaheer told journalist Vimal Kumar.
“He has to just look at how he can contribute and do what’s within his control. He can’t analyse how the team’s management views him, as it’s outside his control. And to his credit, Shami is doing what’s in his control, which is playing matches and performing,” he added.
Shami’s performance in domestic
The senior pacer who took the most wickets for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup has emerged as a workhorse for Bengal in domestic cricket, picking 37 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches last season. Moreover, he followed that up with 15 wickets in seven Vijay Hazare Trophy games.
His childhood coach, Badruddin, recently stated that Shami remains motivated to return to the national setup. “He still has cricket left. He is ready, and if the country needs him, he will be ready to serve,” he said in a media interaction.
Badruddin also highlighted how the pacer can come in handy for the team management in 2027 for the ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
“It is not easy to bowl in South Africa. You need experience there,” he said.
