IND vs ENG: Wasim Akram Warns Team India Against Dropping Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami, the veteran Indian pacer, has forced the Indian team management needs to make a big call when it sits down to select the playing eleven for the next game in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The hosts were forced to make a few changes to the playing eleven for the last game against New Zealand after their star allrounder Hardik Pandya suffered an ankle injury against Bangladesh.

India dropped Shardul Thakur as well in order to make way for Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami. And while Suryakumar could not grab the opportunity, Mohammed Shami grabbed it with both hands. Playing his first game in the ongoing tournament, the right-arm pacer picked up 5 wickets for 54 runs in his 10 overs to help India win the game.

He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his impressive display as India beat the Black Caps by 4 wickets to extend their winning run to 5 games. It would now be interesting to see India’s playing eleven once Pandya returns.

Mohammed Shami is undroppable:

With the Indian team management facing a big call after Mohammed Shami’s sensational performance, former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has come up with a piece of advice for them. The legendary cricketer believes that Shami is undroppable after his display against New Zealand.

“This squad looks good even without Pandya. If he is fit then well and good. It will be difficult to drop Shami now. I feel India shouldn’t risk Pandya (against England) because if it’s an injury to a hamstring or quad, then although you feel good initially, you could pull a muscle in the match. So let him recover 100 percent and then you can play him,” Wasim Akram told Sportskeeda.

“Credit to the team management that whenever any player in the squad comes into the XI, he seems ready. When Shami’s ball hits the seam, it can deviate either way. That’s why I think Shami for me was the player of the match,” added Wasim Akram.

Team India will be in action next on Sunday (October 29) when they take on reigning champions England in Lucknow. The Men in Blue have won their first 5 games in the competition and will be eyeing another win. A win over England will all but seal their passage to the semifinal.