If Jasprit Bumrah Is Not Fit To Play T20 World Cup, Mohammed Shami Should Replace Him – Saba Karim
Published - 22 Aug 2022, 05:47 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:12 AM
Former Indian national selector Saba Karim reckoned Indian pacer Mohammed Shami as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah in case the latter happens to miss the T20 World Cup.
Bumrah has been struggling with back spasms in the late, which eventually ruled him out of the Asia Cup 2022. The move by the Indian selectors was taken into consideration by not aggravating the speedster’s injury and allowing him to recover for the T20 World Cup 2022 in late October.
Who will play in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in Asia Cup 2022?
The surprising thing about this injury is the BCCI was very cautious by resting the ace bowler of Indian cricket from time to time. Many experts opined that it is Bumrah’s unique bowling action that makes him prone to multiple injuries.
Mohammed Shami can surely find a place in the playing XI for the World Cup: Saba Karim
Karim believes that Shami, who paired with Bumrah as the new-ball partner more often in longer formats, should be considered as a suitable replacement if at all the former doesn’t make through to the T20 World Cups squad.
“If someone has to come in for Jasprit Bumrah, then we must consider someone who is experienced and also someone who has done well in T20 cricket in recent times. Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar seem to be the top contenders for that role as they have the ability to pick wickets with the new ball,” Karim said on India News Sports.
It seems like Karim’s opinion might not reflect the selectors’ decision as they don’t have Shami under their radar for the shortest format of the game. Shami played his last T20I match for India during the T20 World Cup last year in Dubai.
Despite picking 20 wickets in 16 matches for Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2022-winning campaign, Shami wasn’t considered for any single T20I series for India. Instead, the selectors have handed young opportunities to young guns like Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh.
