Shami to play T20 WC? BCCI selector hints senior pacer 'can still walk into' India's squad for T20 mega event

Senior India pacer Mohammed Shami, who last played a T20I match for India in November 2021 against Namibia, is again back in the scheme of things as he has been included as one of the four reserves for the upcoming edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This year, the T20 mega event will take place in Australia, and India will hope to come up with a good show and win their second T20 World Cup title.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (September 12) announced the 15-member squad for the competition and also included four reserves. Among the four reserves, one name that caught everyone’s attention was that of Shami, who was clearly told after the end of last year’s T20 World Cup that he wouldn’t feature in T20Is for India ever again. But injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel and an uninspiring show by young Indian fast bowlers in the recently concluded Asia Cup opened the door for Shami.

He will play his first T20I for India after 10 months of exile in the upcoming three-match series against Australia and then follow it up with games against South Africa as well.

Even though for the T20 World Cup, Shami is part of the reserves at the moment, he can still make it to the 15-member squad if he fulfils specific conditions. According to a member of the selection committee, Shami, along with others, will be closely monitored during the India vs Australia T20I series and one slip-up in performance by someone or an injury to anyone can give Shami entry into India’s T20 World Cup squad. Shami, on the other hand, will have to prove his worth in the limited opportunities he will have.

"Someone who hasn’t played for 10 months in T20Is cannot be selected directly for the T20 World Cup. There was a process that was followed. Harshal Patel made the most during his absence. And it cannot be overlooked. Had Harshal or Jasprit not recovered, Shami could have been selected. He too has to follow the process," a selection committee member told InsideSport.

It is reported that in the event of any injury, Shami will be preferred over Deepak Chahar to make it to the main squad.