Srinagar: Former Team India coach Ravi Shastri has slammed India team management for leaving out senior pacer Mohammad Shami out of Asia Cup 2022 squad despite doing well in IPL.
Shastri sais this after India went close to elimination after a six-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in their super four-stage match of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.
Shami last played the shortest format of the game in the 2021 T20 World Cup and hasn’t been called up to the squad since then despite having a memorable campaign with the Gujarat Titans in their maiden campaign. He finished the edition with 20 wickets in 16 games at 24.40 as the Titans lifted the trophy in their first season.
“I was quite surprised that you came here with just 4 fast bowlers. You needed that extra one. Someone like Mohammed Shami sitting at home baffles me. After the IPL for him not making the cut,” Shastri told the broadcasters.
Wasim Akram then asked Shastri: Does the coach have input in selecting the team? “He does. He is not part of the selection. He can contribute,” Shastri added.
Shami also did not feature in the home series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and South Africa.
He was also not picked for the away series against Ireland, England, and West Indies. Shami has 18 scalps in 17 T20Is at 31.55, having made his first appearance against Pakistan in Mirpur in 2014.