Follow UsFormer Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels there are better fast bowlers than Mohammed Shami in the T20 format for India, further adding that his strengths remain in the longest format.
With Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel unavailable for selection due to injuries, many felt Shami would get the opportunity to share the new-ball duties in the Asia Cup. However, India have gone in with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan as their four pacers for the multi-team event.
"He's (Shami) been a very, very good bowler for India for a long time now. If you look at his strengths, his Test cricket is probably where he thrives the most," Ponting said in the latest episode of The ICC Review.
"I think there are better fast bowlers in Indian T20 cricket than Shami and they've only named three (for the Asia Cup). So if there's potentially four named in the squad he might be the fourth man in."
Ponting reckons that India will bring four pacers to Australia for the T20 World Cup and also bring in a lot of spinners despite the conditions not being too favourable for them.
"I would think they'll probably only have the four quicks coming to Australia. They’ll still want to bring a lot of spin here even though the wickets are probably not that conducive," Ponting said.
Ponting, who plies his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the head coach of Delhi Capitals (DC) has backed India to win the Asia Cup. he has also backed India to beat Pakistan in the tournament.
"It's always hard to go past India in any tournament, not just an Asia Cup, but I think every time we talk about the T20 World Cup which is coming up, I think that India will be right in the thick of it there," the 47-year-old said.
"Their depth is definitely better than the other teams and I think India will win the Asia Cup."
"I'll stick with India to win that clash against Pakistan. That's taking nothing away from Pakistan because they are an incredible cricket nation that continues to present out-and-out superstar players."
The Asia Cup is set to kick start on August 27 in the UAE. However, India will begin their campaign the following day against Pakistan the following day in Dubai.