BCCI conditionally allows Mohammed Shami to play Ranji game for Bengal

Even though he is a member of the Test squad named for the four-match series in Australia starting December 6, pacer Mohammed Shami has been allowed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to appear for Bengal in their Ranji Trophy match against Kerala in Kolkata beginning on Tuesday. However, the BCCI has imposed a condition over the bowler’s playing in the Elite group match at the Eden Gardens.

The 28-year-old fast bowler can bowl a maximum of 15 overs in an innings of the match, with a ‘grace’ of no more than two to three overs, as per the BCCI’s condition. The board also asked the Bengal team management to send reports on fitness and workload Shami undertakes at the end of each day, to its physio.

Bengal is okay with BCCI’s term

Bengal had no objection to the condition and included the bowler in their 16-member squad announced on Friday. It was also learnt that Shami himself was eager to play for his state when he came to Eden on the opening day of the match against Madhya Pradesh last Monday. Bengal have played two matches in Elite Group B so far and drawn both to stand second in the points table. Kerala is at the top with one win (against Andhra) and a draw in as many matches.

Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary welcomed Shami, one of the premier members of India’s fast bowling unit at the moment, back into the team. “India obviously comes first and we have to respect what the BCCI has said,” he said after a selection committee meeting at the Cricket Association of Bengal on Friday, according to Cricbuzz.

“I don’t think he (Shami) will need so many overs. We are confident about his ability and with the type of result-oriented pitch we are planning to play on in this match, I believe he will do the job along with the other bowlers,” Tiwary, who felt the 15-over ceiling is enough for the bowler to deliver if on song, was quoted as saying.

Shami, who took a major workload during India’s gruelling Test series in England a few months ago, has been played intermittently since then to ensure that he is not exhausted.

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