Is Mohammed Shami fit? War of words continue between pacer, Ajit Agarkar

The controversy around the Indian squad selection for the upcoming white-ball series for the Australia series shows no signs of abating, with BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar responding to veteran pacer Mohammed Shami’s remarks on his exclusion from the team.

 

India are set to play three ODIs starting October 19 at Perth, and five T20Is.

 

Amid criticism over the inclusion of young pacer Harshit Rana for the ODIs over Shami, came reports that the 35-year-old was ignored because of fitness concerns. Agarkar too, after announcing the squad, said that he had no update on Shami’s fitness status.

 

The pacer, who is playing for Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, in response, dismissed all fitness concerns, and quipped that it was not up to him to update everyone about his fitness.

 

While responding to Shami’s remark, Agarkar said that he would have been in the team if he was fully fit. “If he says that to me, I will probably answer that.... I might give him a call but my phone is always on for most players. I have had multiple chats with him over the last few months...,” the chairman of selectors said at the NDTV World Summit 2025.

 

Agarkar pointed out that Shami would have been part of the squad for the England tour earlier this year if he was fit, but he was not. “He (Shami) has been an incredible performer for India. If he said something, maybe that is a conversation for me to have with him or him to have with me. But even before England, we said if he was fit, he would have been on that plane. Unfortunately, he wasn't.”

 

He added the domestic season has just started, with the first round of Ranji Trophy matches, and the selectors would be watching how the pacer shapes up. “If he is bowling well, why would you not want to have someone like a Shami.”

 

Shami last played in ODIs at the Champion Trophy this year, where he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker for India (along with Varun Chakaravarthy), with nine wickets. He played the IPL and Duleep Trophy, too. 

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