Pacer Mohammed Shami has responded to chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s comments about his fitness after a strong performance in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Uttarakhand.The controversy emerged following Shami’s exclusion from India’s ODI squad for Australia, leading to a disagreement between the pacer and the chief selector.“Let him say whatever he wants. You have seen how I bowled. It is all in front of your eyes,” Shami told reporters at the Eden Gardens at the end of the third day’s play.Agarkar had addressed the situation on Friday, expressing openness to including Shami in the team once he meets fitness requirements.“If Shami were here, I would give him an answer. If he is fit, why would we not have a bowler like Shami?” Agarkar questioned.“I have had multiple chats with him. Over the last six to eight months, what we have found out is that he was not fit. If he stays fit over the next few months, the story might be different, but he was not fit to be picked for the England tour,” Agarkar said.Shami demonstrated his capabilities in the Ranji Trophy opener by taking crucial wickets for Bengal. He concluded Uttarakhand’s first innings by claiming three wickets in a single over, securing a first-innings lead for his team.
Ranji numbers for Mohammed Shami:
- Matches: 90
- Wickets: 340
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 7/79
- Best Bowling in a Match: 11/151
- Bowling Average: 27.31
- 5-Wicket Hauls: 12
- 10-Wicket Match Hauls: 2
His impressive form continued in Uttarakhand’s second innings, where he captured four wickets. Among his victims were skipper Kunal Chandela, who scored 72, along with Abhay Negi, Janmejay Joshi, and Rajan Kumar.The performance appeared to challenge Agarkar’s stance on Shami’s fitness being the reason for his non-selection.Prior to this match, Shami had expressed his disagreement with the BCCI selectors’ explanation. He argued that his participation in four-day games contradicted their fitness concerns.
