The Asian Cup will start in the United Arab Emirates from August 27. India’s team was announced for the Asian Cup earlier this week. Fast pitcher Mohammed Shami has not been selected in the squad for the Asian Cup. Despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, many people are very surprised that Shami does not get a place in Team India.
India has expressed confidence in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and the all-rounder Hardik Pandya. This tournament is the opening plan for the Indian team going to the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November. It is clear from this that now Mohammed Shami is no longer a part of the plan of the Indian team in T20 cricket.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth, a former Indian cricketer and selection committee chairman, said on Follow the Blues: “If I were the selection committee chairman, Shami would really be in my team. I think I don’t ignore Shami.”
Shami has not played T20 for India since being eliminated from the Super 10 stage of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year. After that, India has given Bumrah, Harshal, Bhuvneshwar, Avesh, Arshdeep, Deepak Chahar, Mohammad Siraj, Umran Malik and Shardul Thakur as fast throwers in T20 (including Pandya).
Shami’s T20 record has not been as impressive as his Tests and ODIs. In 17 T20Is, Shami has taken 18 wickets at an average of 31.55 and an economic rate of 9.54, which is higher than his career IPL average and economic rates of 29.19 and 8.52.
His IPL wickets have not been impressive until the 2018 season. However, after collecting 19, 20 and 19 wickets in IPL 2019, 2020 and 2021 with economy rates of 8.68, 8.57 and 7.50 respectively, Shami went on to the World Cup T20, where he averaged 23.33 and economy in five games. He took six wickets at 8.84.
Deepak Chahar has been announced as a backup player for the Asian Cup to return due to injuries. But Shami was not given a place.
