After being snubbed by the India team for the white-ball tour of Australia, fast bowler Mohammed Shami is set to feature in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign. Shami, one of the best fast bowlers in the modern era, has been named in Bengal’s 18-member squad for the premier domestic red-ball tournament.
Shami has been out of the Indian team since the Champions Trophy final in March. Ajit Agarkar has explicitly mentioned in his press conferences that Shami has not played enough domestic cricket to be considered for the Indian team. Sources close to Shami had told India Today in September that the fast bowler’s camp is hurt by the treatment that has been dished out to Shami.
The squad also sees Abhimanyu Easwaran return as the captain of the Bengal team after a couple of seasons. Abhimanyu, who has not been able to feature regularly for the Bengal side due to his India A commitments, is expected to lead the strong side, which has underperformed in the recent past.
Easwaran was relieved of Bengal captaincy midway through the 2022–23 season due to his poor form and India A commitments. The top-order batter has been carried as a reserve for the Indian Test team over the past three years but is yet to make his debut.
Apart from Shami and Easwaran, the Bengal side features talented wicketkeeper-batsman Abishek Porel. In the bowling attack, Akash Deep and Ishan Porel are expected to wreak havoc on the opposition on the spicy pitches of the Ranji Trophy.
