The BCCI has said that Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami has been ruled out from the 2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh and Bhuvnesh Kumar will replace the Bengal pacer. In a statement on their website, the BCCI said, ““The decision has been taken to give him (Shami) more time to recover from the Grade II injury to his left hamstring.”
This is the latest setback for Shami, who was earlier ruled out from Australia tour. Now, his chance of playing in World T20 also comes in danger. Now, it will have to see whether India takes Shami at the ICC World T20 next month considering he wouldn’t have played international cricket for almost one year.
After the knee injury that made him miss the Indian Premier, tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
News Alert: Mohammed Shami ruled out of #AsiaCup, 2016. @BhuviOfficial has been named as the replacement.
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 19, 2016
Despite all his injury problems, Shami was selected in India’s squad for the Asia Cup and the World T20 after playing a few matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. With him now having been ruled out of the Asia Cup, his participation at the World T20 in serious doubt.
Shami’s replacement Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been part of the Indian squad for a while now and also represented the country at the previous World T20 in 2014. The 26-year-old has 12 wickets from 13 T20Is at an average of 22.61 and a very respectable economy rate of 6.53.