Fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after experiencing minor swelling in his left knee, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in a press release.
Shami has not featured for India since the ODI World Cup final in November last year. After the tournament, he underwent surgery for a heel injury in February. The BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence has been closely monitoring Shami’s recovery and rehabilitation process since then.
Shami made a return to competitive cricket in November, bowling 43 overs for Bengal in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. He also played all nine matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy while adding extra bowling sessions to build up his workload in preparation for Test matches.
However, his left knee developed minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his recent bowling workload.
“The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period.” BCCI said.
“Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”
Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning programs under the supervision of the medical staff at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be determined based on the progress of his knee rehabilitation.
The absence of Shami will be a setback for Team India as they look to secure a series victory against Australia in the final two Tests.
