Former India batter Wasim Jaffer lashed out at the Indian selectors after they did not pick pacer Mohammed Shami for India’s upcoming one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan next month.
The squad for the series was announced on Tuesday.
Mohammed Shami snubbed for Afghanistan matches, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja rested
The squad was announced by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel on Tuesday. Apart from snubbing Shami, there were many other harsh calls taken.
Both Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were included in the ODI squad, but only if their fitness held up. Ravindra Jadeja was rested for the Test and seemingly dropped from the ODI team, as was Axar Patel.
Jasprit Bumrah, too, was rested for the series. Shami’s Lucknow Super Giants teammate Prince Yadav was called to the ODI squad, while Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi was also snubbed.
Pacer Gurnoor Brar and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey were called up to both squads, while another left-arm spinner, Manav Suthar, was called to the Test team.
Rishabh Pant was dropped from ODIs altogether and replaced by KL Rahul as the vice-captain of the Test team. Shubman Gill remained captain of both teams.
On Mohammed Shami’s snub, Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar said that the selectors had been told that Shami was fit only for bowling four overs a day.
“Yeah, I mean no, because as far as we’ve been told, at this point his body is allowing him to… I know he’s played the domestic season and all that this year, but from the information that I’ve got is that at this point, you know, T20 cricket is what he’s sort of ready for, yeah? I mean, so no, there was no discussion regarding his name,” Agarkar told the reporters.
Mohammed Shami last played an ODI for India in March 2025 and a Test match in June 2023. In IPL 2026, he has taken 10 wickets in 12 matches at a bowling average of 41 and an economy rate of 8.80.
“Ye bakwass hai” – Wasim Jaffer slams selectors
On his YouTube channel, Jaffer slammed the selectors for ignoring Mohammed Shami despite his recent performances in domestic cricket and also cited Shami’s past performances for team India.
“Yeh to bakwaas hai (It’s rubbish). A player who has performed the whole season, taken over 40 wickets – what more can he do? We are talking about Mohammed Shami, not just any player. A player who has won us so many matches. He took us to the 2023 World Cup final. It’s disrespectful to Mohammed Shami. You tell him to play domestic cricket and prove fitness,” Jaffer said.
“You see, this guy comes back after performing, and you say he’s only fit for T20. It’s just an excuse to not select him. Be clear if you don’t consider him – say, ‘We have overlooked him.’ That would be a fair statement. He is coming after guiding Bengal single-handedly to the Ranji Trophy semi-final, the way he spearheaded the bowling,” he added.
“Will you treat Jasprit Bumrah the same?” – Jaffer
Jaffer also accused the selectors of displaying double standards and said that someone like Jasprit Bumrah would never get treated the same way.
“For example, what if Bumrah gets injured and then comes back? Would you treat him the same way? Mohammed Shami is in the same bracket. Go and ask any international batter, and they would rank him on top. It’s disrespectful for the service he has provided to India,” he said.
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