Questions are mounting over Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from India’s Test squad for the upcoming South Africa series, with speculation swirling about whether the senior pacer has been overlooked by the BCCI or granted rest due to personal reasons.
Earlier, Shami’s personal coach Mohammed Badruddin accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and chief selector Ajit Agarkar of “making excuses” to justify leaving the 35-year-old out despite his stellar domestic form. “He’s not unfit. When a player is taking 15 wickets in two Ranji games, he’s clearly in rhythm. The selectors have already made up their mind to ignore him,” Badruddin told India Today.
Badruddin further alleged that the selection for the South Africa Tests appeared “pre-decided” and not performance-based. Shami, who picked up 15 wickets in his first three Ranji Trophy 2025–26 matches, was not included in either the India A squad or the senior Test squad, despite being one of the most experienced red-ball bowlers in the country.
However, reports indicate that the BCCI may have taken the decision to rest Shami due to personal circumstances, following ongoing legal proceedings involving his estranged wife, Hasin Jahan. The Supreme Court recently sought responses from both Shami and the West Bengal government over Jahan’s plea seeking increased maintenance, a case that has placed the cricketer back under public and emotional pressure.
A BCCI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that no player can perform at their best when mentally preoccupied, and that giving Shami a break may help him “recalibrate before returning for major tournaments.”
Shami, who last played for India in the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, was one of India’s standout performers in that tournament, taking nine wickets in five matches. His omission has therefore raised eyebrows among fans and cricketing experts alike.
While the board hasn’t issued any official clarification, the developments suggest that the decision might have been a combination of workload management and personal rest, rather than a strict performance-based exclusion.
For now, Shami’s supporters and coach remain hopeful that the pacer will make a strong comeback once the situation off the field stabilizes — with Badruddin adding, “He’ll return in his own way, and when he does, he’ll silence everyone.”
