Mohammed Shami breaks silence on retirement after Asia Cup 2025 snub
Published - 27 Aug 2025, 10:01 PM | Updated - 27 Aug 2025, 11:35 PM
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India National Cricket Team star pacer Mohammed Shami has opened up on the discussions surrounding his possible retirement after his snub from the Asia Cup 2025 squad.
Mohammed Shami came up with a blunt statement, saying that the people don't need to worry about his retirement because he will anyway say goodbye to cricket when he gets bored.
No place for Mohammed Shami in India's Asia Cup 2025 squad
The 34-year-old right-arm pacer was last seen in action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he played 9 games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and bagged just 6 wickets at an average of 56.16. Overall, he has played 25 T20I matches for India and has picked up 27 wickets at an average of 28.18.
His last T20I appearance came on February 2 against England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where he bagged three wickets. However, he mainly played the game as preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Despite being a proven match-winner, Mohammed Shami has not been picked in India's Asia Cup 2025 squad, and the selectors have named Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh as three specialist pacers.
Meanwhile, Shami will be next seen in action in the Duleep Trophy 2025, which will start on August 28, and the premier pacer will be seen in action in the very first game as the East Zone will lock horns with the North Zone.
In an interview with Manak Gupta from News 24, Shami said that he was fully ready to play the Asia Cup, but was not selected. "If I am Playing in Duleep Trophy - I was ready for Asia Cup also," he said.
If someone has a problem, tell me, if it is like their lives become better if I take retirement - Mohammed Shami
While talking about his retirement, Mohammed Shami brutally targeted his critics, asking them if they have any problem with him, and made it clear that he has no plans to retire anytime soon. He said:
"If someone has a problem, tell me, if it is like their lives become better if I take retirement. Tell me whose life have I become a rock in that you want me to retire? The day I get bored, I will leave. You don't pick me, but I will keep working hard. You don't pick me in international, I will play domestic. I will keep playing somewhere or the other. You have to make these decisions when you start feeling bored. That is not the time for me now."
Mohammed Shami also revealed that his only dream is to win the ICC ODI World Cup trophy, which India couldn't lift in 2023 despite his extraordinary performances. He said:
"I only have one dream left, that is to win the ODI World Cup. I want to be a part of that team and perform that wins the ODI World Cup and brings it home. We were very close in 2023. We had a gut feeling, but we also had a fear that we were winning non-stop, and it was the knockout stage. There was some fear. But the enthusiasm and belief of the fans motivated us. This was a dream that could have been fulfilled, but maybe it was not in my luck."
Touchwood it is better now - Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami was not part of the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as he was found not fit enough to handle the workload of Test cricket. However, now his fitness has gotten better. The pacer said:
"Touchwood it is better now. The last two months I have trained, increased my skills, shed weight and increased the load as well. Let's see the result that I get now. My focus in on getting rhythm and to be able to bowl long spells. I have practiced on batting and fielding as well and done a lot of gym. Everything is comfortable now," he said.
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