'Shami Shouldn't Be Picked If…': Ex-India Batter Warns Against Star Pacer's Selection For Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The Indian men’s cricket team is set to travel to Australia later this year to take part in a five-match Test series. The 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to start on November 22 in Perth, and the next four matches will be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. India has won the last two Test series played on Australian soil, and under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, they will be eager to complete the hat-trick of series wins this time around.

Ahead of the India tour of Australia, former India batter Manoj Tiwary has warned BCCI against the selection of Mohammed Shami by saying that he shouldn’t be considered for the red-ball assignment if he is not fully fit.

According to him, if Shami is picked despite not being fully fit, then there are chances of breakdown.

“How can you take him to Australia if he is 80% fit? There are chances of a breakdown if he is 80% fit. If anyone is not 100% fit, then he shouldn’t play. Because if you want to see the long term, then you should not play anyone who is not 100% fit,” Tiwary told RevSportz Global.

“He (Shami) is an asset. The T20 World Cup is coming up, and there are many other tournaments as well. You can take him and get his rehab done there. But it is very important to be 100% fit because you are representing India. You are not doing this for any state or club cricket team. Because we have bowlers who can come and work on that gap. You will not get the same experience and quality as him, but you should also look at the rest of the players; otherwise, they will get upset.You will not get the same experience and quality as him, but you should also look at the rest of the players; otherwise, they will get upset. But when Shami is 100% fit, then he should be the first to come with Bumrah,” he added.

Shami last played for India in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, and since then he has been out of action due to an ankle injury. It was reported last week that he is in line to get picked for the India-New Zealand Test series.