Team India pacer Mohammed Shami ended up bowling 26 overs in the first innings during Bengal’s tie against Kerala, despite BCCI putting a 15-overs cap on the pacer.
Meanwhile, the match situation dictated that Shami continue to bowl as Jalaj Saxena’s magnificent 143 took Kerala to 291. Shami started the day on a high picking two crucial wickets to have Kerala at 114 for five after starting the day at 35 for 1.
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Since then, VA Jagadeesh steadied the ship with a 119-run partnership with Saxena to put Bengal on the backfoot. Mohammed Shami continued to toil but failed to pick up any more wickets.
Sairaj Bahutule, Bengal coach, noted that Shami continued as he was willing to bowl. He also admitted that it is on him and they cannot ask him to stop.
“At the ground, he felt he can bowl more than 15 overs so he went ahead and bowled despite we telling that he can take a break. He wanted to bowl so he continued. He was willing to bowl. There was a grace of two or three overs apart from the 15 overs he was allowed. That was also mentioned. He was bowling in good rhythm. If needed, he will bowl more overs in the second innings. It’s on him. It’s not on us to ask him to stop,” Bahutule said.
The apex body is trying to manage the workload of the premier cricketers ahead of the Test series against Australia. While they asked Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin to rest, BCCI put additional restrictions on Shami’s play.
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