Bengal senior men’s head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla on Saturday said he and many others had hoped senior pacer Mohammed Shami would make a comeback to the Indian Test side and sign off from the red-ball format in national colours but lamented that it didn’t happen as fate had other plans. Known for generating seam movement and swing with both the new and the old ball, Shami announced on Friday night that he was retiring from Tests. He signs off with 229 wickets from 64 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls, making him India’s sixth-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Tests.
Bengal senior men’s head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla on Saturday said he and many others had hoped senior pacer Mohammed Shami would make a comeback to the Indian Test side and sign off from the red-ball format in national colours.
“Despite all of that, playing and practising for Bengal for the last two years in Ranji Trophy, Mushtaq Ali, and Vijay Hazare – I mean, you are the best, Shami. “You are outstanding. We all wanted you to have a comeback in the Test team and retire from there. But God did not accept it. “Outstanding Mohammed Shami. A wonderful record in Test cricket for a wonderful player and human being. “I would like to share one more thing with all of you that Mohammed Shami has put so much effort. “I remember the day when you came to our Bengal nets for U23 games. You played Ranji Trophy directly from there. Our selectors were there and I was the captain at that time. Shami, though, will continue to feature in white-ball cricket.
Shami last played a Test match for India in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final against Australia and never returned to play the longest format for India thereafter. He has been included in Bengal’s 19-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which begins on November 14. Bengal will open its campaign against Karnataka in an Elite Group A fixture at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 14.
Despite that, you are the best,” Shukla said in a video posted on his Instagram account. The former India all-rounder also said Shami’s hunger for domestic cricket after a decorated international career had left a deep impression on him. I have not seen a fast bowler working so hard for domestic cricket games after playing so many international matches and taking many wickets in Tests, One-days and T20s,” he said. You played from there and I was the captain that time and now the coach here,” he said.
