Mohammed Shami hopes to play 2-3 games for Bengal before India return

India pacer Mohammed Shami has been out of action since the 50-over World Cup final against Australia in November. Since then, he has undergone ankle surgery and, as a result, has missed all the consequent series, including the T20 World Cup 2024, which was played in the US and West Indies. The pacer is undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru. 

According to the BCCI rules, when a player gets injured, they have to prove their fitness at the domestic circuit before being eligible to represent the country. Providing a timeline of his possible comeback, Shami has said his target is to play 2-3 games for Bengal before making a comeback into the Indian side.

“I can’t commit any time frame for my comeback. I am working hard on my match fitness, but hopefully I will compete for Bengal before I don Team India’s jersey. I will play 2-3 matches for Bengal,” Shami said during his felicitation ceremony by the East Bengal Club in Kolkata.

Shami revealed that his initial plan was to get the surgery done after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and the T20 World Cup 2024, but he could not do so as his injury was more serious than he thought. “I never thought that my injury was serious. The plan was to start the treatment after the IPL and the T20 World Cup,” he said.

“But my condition turned bad during the ODI World Cup and I thought of starting the treatment at the earliest. Even the doctors were surprised to see the seriousness of my ankle injury."

The 2024/25 Ranji season will begin from October 11. Bengal are scheduled to play their first Ranji match of the season against Uttar Pradesh from October 11-14. 

Shami will likely target being 100% fit for the five-match Test series against Australia, that is scheduled to start on November 22 in Perth.

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