Shami uncertain for SA Tests

Mohammad Shami is doubtful for the Test series against South Africa, and it may be unsurprising if he is ruled out of the test leg.  

The speedster is nursing an ankle injury, and will not be travelling to South Africa with the rest of the test squad. The final lot of players including captain, Rohit Sharma, is expected to depart for Johannesburg on Friday (December 15), but the 33-year-old pacer will not be one of them. 

Besides the skipper, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, R Ashwin, Navdeep Saini and Harshit Rana will be accompanying the team. The selectors have not named a replacement for Shami, but with many players already in SA for T20Is, ODIs, Tests and A series, it is believed that instead of naming a replacement, the Indian Cricket Board would co-opt someone from the limited overs or Test squad to come in place of the veteran pacer. Presently, more than 75 Indian players are touring South Africa. 

Shami was a conditional pick for the Test series, and during the time of selection, the Indian Cricket Board had informed about Shami’s injury. The Indian Cricket Board statement on Shami had stated “ "Mr. Mohd. Shami is currently undergoing medical treatment, and his availability is subject to fitness."

The pacer had been suffering from ankle pain, and it is learned that he had played the World Cup despite the discomfort, particularly experiencing pain while landing on his right foot at the delivery point.