IND vs PAK: "What Doesn’t Make Sense..." - Former Indian Opener Aakash Chopra On Mohammed Shami Replacing Bumrah In The World Cup Squad

On Friday, October 14, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Mohammed Shami to the Indian World Cup 15-man squad, replacing the injured Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury. The right-arm fast bowler has been drafted into the main squad as a replacement, who was named as one of the reserves in the original squad.

The two reserve bowlers, Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar are also struggling with their fitness. While Shami has recovered from COVID-19, Chahar has suffered a back injury.

Eventually, India went in with Shami while naming Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur as standbys. “The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Mohammed Shami as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement in India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad. Shami has reached Australia and will link up with the squad in Brisbane ahead of the warm-up matches,” BCCI said in a release.

Shami Hasn’t Played A Single T20i Since The Last World Cup – Aakash Chopra

Mohammed Shami hasn’t been in the Indian team’s T20 scheme of things since last year’s T20 World Cup and has not played competitive cricket since July. Shami was recently included in the squad for the T20I series against Australia and South Africa, but he was ruled out after he contracted COVID-19.

Former India opener Akash Chopra said that Shami hasn’t played a single T20I since the last World Cup, which makes no sense given that he was always available.

“Shami to replace Bumrah. Makes perfect sense. What doesn’t make sense is the fact that he hasn’t played a single T20i since the last World Cup. And that’s got nothing to do with his fitness. He was always available…,” the cricketer-turned-pundit tweeted.