Indian national chief selector Ajit Agarkar has finally broken the silence on the Indian veteran pacer Mohammed Shami not getting a chance in the recent Asia Cup 2025 campaign and the upcoming Australian tour Down Under.
Interestingly, Shami last played international cricket way back in the ICC Champions Trophy in March 2025 and went on to miss the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy due to poor fitness. Moreover, he wasn’t part of the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025 campaign as well.
Speaking exclusively on NDTV, Agarkar emphasized that the selection committee is currently prioritizing players who are fully prepared to perform at the highest level, especially when stakes are high.
"If he says that to me, I will probably answer that. I mean, if he were here, I would probably do that. I am not quite sure what he said on social media. Maybe if I read that, I might give him a call, but my phone is always on for all the players. I have had multiple chats with him over the last few months, but I don't want to try and give you a headline here," Agarkar told NDTV Sports.
"He has been an incredible performer for India. If he said something, maybe that is a conversation for me to have with him or him to have with me. But even before England, we said if he was fit, he would have been on the plane. Unfortunately, he wasn't, and our domestic season has just started. We will see if he is fit enough and where it goes. We will find out in a couple of more games. If he is bowling well, why would you not want to have someone like Shami? But what we have found in the last six or seven months, unfortunately, his fitness wasn't there," he added.
For the unversed, Shami hogged the spotlight most recently with his ‘lack of communication’ comment ahead of the start of the Ranji Trophy 2025 season.
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“I might give him a call…” - Ajit Agarkar reacts to Mohammed Shami’s ‘lack of communication’ comment
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar reacts to Mohammed Shami's public comments about his non-selection and fitness 'lack of communication', stating he "might give him a call" to discuss the matter.
Indian national chief selector Ajit Agarkar has finally broken the silence on the Indian veteran pacer Mohammed Shami not getting a chance in the recent Asia Cup 2025 campaign and the upcoming Australian tour Down Under.
Interestingly, Shami last played international cricket way back in the ICC Champions Trophy in March 2025 and went on to miss the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy due to poor fitness. Moreover, he wasn’t part of the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025 campaign as well.
Speaking exclusively on NDTV, Agarkar emphasized that the selection committee is currently prioritizing players who are fully prepared to perform at the highest level, especially when stakes are high.
"If he says that to me, I will probably answer that. I mean, if he were here, I would probably do that. I am not quite sure what he said on social media. Maybe if I read that, I might give him a call, but my phone is always on for all the players. I have had multiple chats with him over the last few months, but I don't want to try and give you a headline here," Agarkar told NDTV Sports.
"He has been an incredible performer for India. If he said something, maybe that is a conversation for me to have with him or him to have with me. But even before England, we said if he was fit, he would have been on the plane. Unfortunately, he wasn't, and our domestic season has just started. We will see if he is fit enough and where it goes. We will find out in a couple of more games. If he is bowling well, why would you not want to have someone like Shami? But what we have found in the last six or seven months, unfortunately, his fitness wasn't there," he added.
For the unversed, Shami hogged the spotlight most recently with his ‘lack of communication’ comment ahead of the start of the Ranji Trophy 2025 season.
Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky365 and download the Sky365 App to start betting today!