Former head coach Ravi Shastri questioned India’s think tank’s decision to keep Mohammed Shami out of the T20I side, saying the decision has baffled him. He also called team management’s decision to select only four pacers for the 2022 Asia Cup.
Incidentally, the Men in Blue suffered two back to back defeats in the Super 4 of the ongoing continental tournament. Rohit Sharma and Co. failed to defend total two times on the trot. The bowlers were taken to the cleaners as they failed to execute the plans to perfection.
Speaking at the end of the game to the host broadcaster, Ravi Shastri said, “When you need to win, you got to prepare better. I think the selection could have been better, especially for the fast bowlers. You know the conditions here. There’s not much in it for the spinner.”
“I was quite surprised that you came here with just 4 fast bowlers. You needed that extra one. Someone like Mohammed Shami sitting at home baffles me. After the IPL for him not making the cut,” Shastri added.
Mohammed Shami had a memorable campaign with the Gujarat Titans in their maiden IPL campaign. He finished the edition with 20 wickets in 16 games at 24.40 as the Titans lifted the trophy in their first season.
Despite his superlative run, Shami was not considered for selection. His last game in the shortest format came in ICC T20 World Cup last year. Shami has 18 scalps in 17 T20Is at 31.55, having made his first appearance against Pakistan in Mirpur in 2014.
“Does a coach have input in selecting the team?” – Wasim Akram question Mohammed Shami’s exclusion
Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram was not also happy with Shami’s exclusion from the Indian team for the ongoing Asia Cup, and questioned whether head coach has any inputs in selection of the team.
During the discussion, Akram asked Shastri: “Does a coach have input in selecting the team?”
To which former India coach noted: “He does. He’s not part of the selection. He can contribute by saying ‘this is the combination we want then it’s up to the captain in the meeting to take that forward.”
With the T20 World Cup still a couple of series away, it remains to be seen if Mohammed Shami earns a call back to the T20I side.
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