Mumbai: Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has urged veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami to remain focused on his performances and keep faith in his chances of returning to the national team, despite the selectors continuing to overlook him amid a growing injury crisis.
Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Zaheer said Shami should not be distracted by the team management’s plans and should instead concentrate on performing consistently in domestic cricket. The 35-year-old pacer has been out of the national side since the 2025 Champions Trophy but has continued to produce impressive performances for Bengal.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has overlooked Shami even as several frontline players, including Jasprit Bumrah, have struggled with injuries. Zaheer said Shami was doing the right thing by continuing to play positively and take wickets whenever he gets the opportunity.
While players can assess and analyse the team’s future plans, Zaheer stressed that their priority should be staying ready to make the most of any opportunity to contribute for India.
He also addressed the mounting injury concerns surrounding the Indian team, with Bumrah, Washington Sundar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya among the prominent players facing fitness issues.
Zaheer described injuries as an unavoidable part of a cricketer’s career but stressed that workload management alone cannot explain them. He said the underlying causes of injuries must be identified and properly treated, particularly for fast bowlers, whose bodies face significant physical demands.