Mohammed Shami vs Ajit Agarkar: Who said what in the fiery selection saga | Cricket News
The ongoing tussle between veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami and selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar has sparked a fresh debate over communication, fitness, and selection transparency in Indian cricket.It all began when India’s Test squad for the West Indies series was announced earlier this year and Shami’s name was missing.Also Watch:
Agarkar, explaining the decision, had said that Shami hadn’t played enough cricket to be considered for selection. The 35-year-old fast bowler had been out of competitive action since India’s Champions Trophy final in March and was still working on his match fitness at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).But the situation escalated when Shami, hit back at the selection committee. In a strong statement, he said that updating selectors about his fitness wasn’t his job.“About giving an update, it’s not my responsibility to give an update or ask for an update. It’s not my job to give updates on my fitness. My job is to attend the NCA, prepare, and play matches. Woh unki baat hai unko kaun update deta hai, kisne nahin diya (That’s their matter, who gives them updates or not). It’s not my responsibility,” Shami said.Agarkar later doubled down, clarifying that Shami wasn’t picked for the ODI series against Australia simply because he wasn’t fully fit. But Shami fired back again, asserting that his performance on the field spoke louder than words.“Let him say whatever he wants. You’ve seen how I bowled. It’s all in front of your eyes,” the pacer said, following up with back-to-back match-winning spells for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy.In Bengal’s first two matches of the season, Shami delivered a masterclass in red-ball bowling — taking 15 wickets across two games, including a five-wicket haul against Gujarat at Eden Gardens that sealed a 141-run win. His fiery spells tore through opposition line-ups and served as a timely reminder of his value in the longest format.Now, with form, rhythm, and fitness all back in place, Mohammed Shami has let his performances do the talking — sending a clear message to the selectors ahead of India’s upcoming Test series in South Africa.
