‘Unfit’ Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson dropped from India squads

Mumbai: Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was left out of the Test team for the one-off match against minnows Afghanistan after he failed the fitness test at NCA, Bengaluru, All-India Senior Selection Committee of the BCCI said on Monday. Pacer Navdeep Saini was called up as Shami’s replacement for the lone Test.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Navdeep Saini as Mohammed Shami’s replacement in the Indian Test team for the upcoming Paytm Test against Afghanistan. The announcement came after Shami failed to clear the fitness test at NCA, Bengaluru”, BCCI said in media release said.

Mohammed Siraj and Rajneesh Gurbani – two India A quicks — were also summoned by the team management to attend the training sessions. “The Indian team management has requested that India A fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Rajneesh Gurbani attend the training sessions of the Indian team and bowl at the Indian batsmen in the nets. A request was also made for Ankit Rajpoot, but the Uttar Pradesh fast bowler is unwell,” the release further stated.

Meanwhile, the selection committee has called up Ishan Kishan, in place of wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson, in India A team for the away limited overs series against England Lions and West Indies A. Samson also failed to clear his fitness test on Monday.

India take on new entrants Afghanistan at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting Thursday.