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Mohammed Shami sits out Bengal's Ranji game days after New Zealand tour snub
The fast bowler trained with the squad on Saturday and was expected to lead the attack against Services at Palam. Bengal have given no reason for his absence.
Key points
- Mohammed Shami was missing from Bengal's XI against Services at Palam A on Sunday.
- He took four wickets against Delhi in Bengal's first-round win.
- Shami was left out of both India squads for the five ODIs and two Tests in New Zealand.
Mohammed Shami was missing from Bengal’s side when their second-round Ranji Trophy match against Services began at Palam A in Delhi on Sunday, days after the selectors left him out of India’s squads for New Zealand.
The fast bowler trained with the squad on Saturday and had been expected to lead the pace attack, with Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar away on India A duty. Bengal have not explained his absence. He was reported to have been rested, though people close to the team management have suggested the decision may have been his own.
Shami took four wickets against Delhi in Bengal’s nine-wicket win in the first round, a reminder to the selectors before they named the touring party. When the squads for the five one-day internationals and two Tests were announced, he was in neither. Jasprit Bumrah is in the Test squad and Mohammed Siraj is part of both plans. The selectors have not said publicly why Shami was left out, and questions have been raised over whether he can sustain long spells.
Bengal won the toss and batted first. Their XI was Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Ankur Paul, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Sudip Chatterjee, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sumanta Gupta, Abishek Porel (wicketkeeper), Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Mohammed Kaif and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal.
Shahbaz Ahmed is back in the side after shoulder surgery. The New Zealand tour begins with the first ODI on 4 November, and the Test leg starts on 19 November.