In what should be music to Team India's ears, Mohammed Shami is set to return to competitive cricket in Bengal's Ranji Trophy clash against Madhya Pradesh in Indore beginning on Wednesday.
The senior India pacer, who has been out of action since playing in the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad a year ago, was officially declared fit by the National Cricket Academy on Monday evening. The development certainly brightens Shami's prospects of joining the Team India squad at some stage of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, tentatively the third Test in Brisbane from December 14, which The Telegraph had reported in its October 27 edition.
"Shami had been bowling eight overs or so over the last few days at the NCA (in Bengaluru). That proved he was fit... Just that he didn't want to rush his return.
"However, yesterday (Monday) late evening, he was declared fit by the NCA. A member of the medical team will be there in Indore to monitor Shami's fitness," a BCCI official told The Telegraph.
"The Indian team management too had been checking on his progress as the think-tank is keen to have him for the Tests in Australia."
"It will be challenging for him since he's a fast bowler and returning after a year, which is a long time. We'll have to see how many overs he's able to bowl in Indore and the rhythm he's in," former India captain Sourav Ganguly said at the Eden late on Tuesday evening.
