Mohammed Shami to play domestic cricket before India return

Ace India pacer Mohammed Shami underwent ankle surgery in February, which ruled him out of the five-match Test series against England, IPL and the recently concluded T20 World Cup. The 33-year-old is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and is working on his fitness as the cricketer isn’t sure when he will be able to make his return to professional cricket.

Previously, a source close to BCCI revealed that the board was planning to use him in the series against Bangladesh but that might not happen. Shami revealed that he is yet to gain full fitness and when he does, he will play a few games for Bengal in domestic cricket before getting back into the national team.

“It’s difficult to say when I will be back. I am trying hard but hopefully, you will get to see me in Bengal colours before I don the India jersey again. I will come to play two-three matches for Bengal and will come fully prepared for it,” Shami was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Shami added that the goal was to get the surgery done after the T20 World Cup as he wanted to feature in the IPL and the global tournament but plans changed as his ankle worsened during the ODI World Cup. The Amroha-born pacer was ruthless in the 50-overs tournament but at the same time, he was dealing with the injury. Shami revealed that he didn’t expect the injury to get so serious and the doctors advised him to get the surgery done.

“We never thought the injury would be this serious. The plan was to address it after the T20 World Cup since we had the IPL and the ICC T20 mega event coming almost back-to-back after last year’s World Cup. But it turned worse during the ODI World Cup itself and I also did not find it right to risk playing on with it,” he recalled. “Even the doctors could not fathom that the injury will take such a serious turn and will take so much time to heal,” the pacer said.