A day after India’s Test and ODI squads for the tour of New Zealand were announced, Bengal trained in preparation for its Ranji Trophy game against Services at Palam. Mohammed Shami was very much a part of the practice session, but when the game began the following morning, the veteran pacer was absent from the playing XI. It could have been perceived to be a vexed reaction to his continued absence from India’s plans over the last 18 months and certainly prompted more theories surrounding Shami’s fitness, but the 36-year-old set the record straight on Tuesday.

“You could see the condition of the pitch, right? There was no point in playing on this wicket and bowling two to four overs. It was better that the youngsters got a run. The more they play, the more experience they will get. My motive is that when the team requires me, I will play. I don’t think there was really a need here. I can’t play as a batter,” he said.

Shami’s reference was to the spin-friendly surface on view. Just one wicket fell to a pacer in the entire game, coincidentally taken by younger brother Mohammed Kaif.

Shami’s last international outing was the Champions Trophy final in March 2025.

Countering the insinuation that his spells for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy over the last year have been short and lacking the intensity required, he said: “How can anyone else from the outside decide whether I bowl long spells or not? That is dependent on the demands of the team. It is not like I will keep bowling over after over. This depends entirely on the game situation and pitch conditions. By the way, I bowled for one-and-a-half hours in training today. There was no issue.”

At his age, Shami’s chances of an India recall seem remote. However, he won’t stop hoping. “Why should I give up hope? The hope should always be there. In any profession, you should always have a goal. I don’t deny I have that goal”.