Shami-Agarkar controversy keeps building: Pacer hits chief selector with 'let him say whatever he wants' jibe

Mohammed Shami-Ajit Agarkar controversy keeps building (AP Photos)

Mohammed Shami is in no mood to let go of things as far his India selection is concerned. Shami was part of India's Champions Trophy squad, where he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker from the Indian camp alongside Varun Chakaravarthy. However, he was not considered for the Australia ODIs, which begins from Sunday.

The BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, after the announcing the squad for Australia, had stated that he did not have any update on Shami's fitness. Shami in response hit back at Agarkar over his exclusion while speaking to reporters in Kolkata ahead of the Ranji Trophy. He said that his availability for Bengal in Ranji Trophy proves he is fit and it is not his job to update the panel on this.

"I have said this before... Selection is not in my hands. If there is a fitness issue, I shouldn't be here playing for Bengal," he said. "I think I do not need to speak on this and create a controversy. If I can play four-dayers (Ranji Trophy), I can also play 50-overs cricket," he added when asked about his snub.

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Commenting further on his current situation and the remarks by Agarkar, Shami said it's not his job to give his fitness update to the selectors. "About giving an update, it's not my responsibility to give an update or ask for an update. It's not my job to give updates on my fitness. My job is to go to the NCA (Centre of Excellence), prepare and play matches. Woh unki baat hai unko kaun update deta hai, kisne nahin diya (That's their matter who gives them updates or not). It's not my responsibility," he said.

Agarkar, then speaking at NDTV World Summit 2025, was asked to weigh-in on the comments made by the pacer. "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 most 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."

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Speaking on Shami's future at the national team, the chairman of selectors added: "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 that plane. Unfortunately, he wasn't. Our domestic season has just started, so we will see if he is fit enough, and we will see where it goes. This is the first round of Ranji games that is going on. 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 6-8 months to a year, even during the Australia tour, we were desperate to have him on, but unfortunately, his fitness wasn't there. If he does stay fit over the next few months, the story might be different. But at this point, as far as I know, he wasn't fit enough for that England tour."

Taking note of Agarkar's recent remarks on his fitness, Shami was once again ruthless in his response. “Let him say whatever he wants. You’ve seen how I bowled. It’s all in front of your eyes,” he was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. The remarks by the pacer were made after close of play on Day 3 of the ongoing Ranji Trophy action between Bengal and Uttarakhand in Kolkata.

Shami was disciplined, conceding just 21 runs in 15 overs, but did not get any breakthroughs for the hosts in the second innings. Earlier, in the first innings he could get wickets only in the latter half of the day, while bowling to tail-enders.