NEW DELHI: One of the major discussions around the Indian squad selection for the Australia white-ball tour is the exclusion of veteran pace spearhead Mohammed Shami. The call to omit him from the One-Day International (ODI) series has quickly escalated into a major public debate.

Meanwhile, chief selector Ajit Agarkar finally had his words on this issue when asked about Mohammed Shami’s absence, clearly linking the bowler’s exclusion to his current physical condition.

Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Agarkar set the record straight on the matter of the bowler’s selection status, stating:

“If Mohammed Shami was fit, he’d be in the team.”

Agarkar also addressed the communication issue raised by Shami, emphasizing his commitment to open dialogue with all players. He suggested that if Shami felt unheard, the responsibility for initiating the conversation lay with the player as well.

He stated: “My phone is always on for all the players. If he said something, maybe that is a conversation for me to have with him or him to have with me.”

Agarkar then reiterated the selection committee’s policy, referencing an earlier omission: “But even before England, we said if he was fit, he would have been on the plane. Unfortunately, he wasn’t and our domestic season has just started.”

Shami’s rebuttal and fitness claim

Shami, who is currently playing in the Ranji Trophy, addressed the issue ahead of his domestic side’s season opener.

The veteran paceman made a sarcastic remark directed at the national selection committee, stating that playing a Ranji Trophy match is “enough to prove his fitness.”

The 35-year-old paceman asserted that if he were truly unfit, he would not be available for his domestic side’s four-day commitment.

Shami drew a clear logical comparison: “If I can play four-dayers, I can also play 50-overs cricket.” He added that he did not want to create a controversy.

Shami also earlier countered the committee’s implied narrative, stating that providing updates to the selectors is not part of his job.