‘Selectors and team management should be honest with him’- Cheteshwar Pujara on Mohammed Shami situation

Since Mohammed Shami is still shunned by the Test team, Cheteshwar Pujara asked the selection committee to be truthful with him. Shami was not included in the team for this year's trip of England and last represented India in a Test match at the World Test Championship final at the Oval in 2023. 

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The pacer was ordered to play domestic cricket by BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who stated that his fitness and game time were insufficient to qualify him for a spot in the team. Despite not being selected for the South Africa series, Shami has since taken 15 wickets in the current Ranji Trophy season.  

In an interview with the media prior to the first Test in Kolkata, Pujara stated that the selectors and team management must communicate clearly with the pacers regarding the future strategy.

“Someone like Mohammed Shami should be having – I mean, the selectors and the team management should have a very honest conversation with him. What’s the plan going forward? Whether they want to pick him or whether they are looking at the young players," said Pujara, as quoted by India Today.

According to Pujara, the pacer should be informed if the BCCI has chosen to look at younger players instead of Shami so that he may proceed and consider his alternatives.

“If he is being informed that they are not looking at him, then it is always Shami’s personal call whether he wants to carry on playing first-class cricket, whether he still wants to – I mean, he is part of the IPL as well. So, he would want to carry on playing cricket. The communication from the team management has to be very, very clear and it should be very honest conversation and Shami should be part of it,” said Pujara.

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