Mohammed Shami’s fitness has come under the spotlight ahead of the India vs Australia Test series after the fast bowler suffered a major injury scare during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25. This marks another concern for Shami, who recently returned to competitive cricket after a year-long injury hiatus.
Injury details
During Bengal’s match against Madhya Pradesh in SMAT, Shami appeared to hurt his lower back while attempting to stop the ball. The incident left the 34-year-old pacer grimacing in pain, causing concern among players and officials. Nitin Patel, the head of the BCCI’s medical panel, rushed to assess Shami on the field.
Fortunately, the injury did not turn out to be serious, but it raised significant concerns over his fitness. This scare follows Shami’s return to professional cricket, during which he played one Ranji Trophy match and four T20s.
BCCI’s approach
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had already expressed caution regarding Shami’s inclusion in the India vs Australia 2nd Test. To monitor his fitness and build match readiness, the pacer was advised to participate in SMAT games. Despite being cleared by the BCCI medical team before the tournament, this injury scare has cast doubts on his readiness for the high-stakes Test series.