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NEW DELHI: Premier India pacer Mohammed Shami is unlikely to travel to Australia anytime soon as he has yet to receive fitness clearance from the National Cricket Academy, a Cricbuzz report said.
Despite Shami’s absence being felt by the Indian team Down Under in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet remains undecided on whether the 34-year-old should be sent at all or not.
Shami’s fitness is being constantly monitored by the Sports Science wing of the BCCI’s Bengaluru-based Centre of Excellence, who is yet to submit a conclusive report.
An NCA team including national selector SS Das, BCCI’s Sports Science head Nitin Patel, and Strength and Conditioning trainer Nishanta Bardule had earlier traveled to Rajkot to monitor Shami’s performance in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).
Representing Bengal, the pacer impressed with eight wickets in seven matches.
But despite bowling full tilt in the T20 format, doubts persist over Shami’s ability to endure the physical demands of a Test match, especially after a year-long injury layoff.
Citing sources, the Cricbuzz report said that the best-case scenario for Shami is his availability for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) starting December 26.
However, that too is being considered optimistic and it is also possible that the veteran pacer may not make the trip to Australia at all.
A potential Shami return for the final Test in Sydney at the start of next year is also a possibility but nothing is confirmed at the moment.
Currently Shami remains with the Bengal team, which has progressed to the knockout stage of the SMAT.
Bengal is set to face Chandigarh in the pre-quarterfinals at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on November 9, with Shami expected to participate.
The pacer was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 10 crore at the IPL mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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