Seasoned Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami indirectly took a dig at the Indian team management after being left out of India's ODI and T20I squads for the Australia tour. Shami made it clear that he is fully fit and available to play, hinting that there is a matter of communication rather than his fitness. Shami Clears Air on Fitness Rumours The senior pacer, who has been included in Bengal's team for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, nullified all the fitness-related concerns. Shami claimed that if he is fit to bowl long spells in red-ball cricket, there's no reason why he can't play limited-overs cricket. Shami said: "The Indian team didn't communicate with me regarding fitness. I am not the one who would inform them about my fitness – they have to ask me. If I can play four-day cricket, then why can't I play a 50-over game? If I wasn't fit, I'd be at the NCA and not playing here in the Ranji Trophy." The Bengal team will be captained by Abhimanyu Easwaran, while Shami will lead the bowling attack, confirmed the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Bengal's domestic campaign starts on October 15. Also Read | ‘Don’t say anything to run your YouTube channel’ - Gambhir Defends Harshit Rana Selectors Provide Alternate Reason Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had recently provided an alternate reason while commenting about the absence of Shami. He indicated the absence of match practice over the past few months as a reason for the decision. Agarkar said: "I have no update. He has played in the Duleep Trophy. But in the last two-three years, he hasn’t played a lot of cricket. I think he played one game for Bengal and one in the Duleep Trophy. As a performer, we know what he can do, but he has to play cricket." Shami had his last stint for India at the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, in which he picked one wicket. Even though he began the tournament strongly with a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, he was inconsistent in the latter part of it.