‘Shami is far from ready’: India should have picked four pacers in Champions Trophy squad, feels Aakash Chopra | Cricket News

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns over senior pacer Mohammad Shami’s readiness and Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness ahead of this month’s Champions Trophy.
While Shami has been on the comeback trail from the domestic season since October, the 34-year-old pacer featured in two matches of the recent five-match T20I series against England. Meanwhile, the BCCI has yet to provide an update on Bumrah’s condition after he suffered a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia after chief selector Ajit Agarkar recently informed that he was advised five weeks’ rest.
Chopra urged that given the tentativeness on the condition of India’s two senior bowling pros, the team should have roped in four pacers in the 15-member Champions Trophy squad. In the provisionally announced roster, Bumrah, Shami and Arshdeep Singh have been named alongside all-rounder Hardik Pandya and five spinners.
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“I am not hearing great news about Bumrah’s fitness. However, I won’t believe in hearsay, and won’t share what I heard either,” Chopra said, speaking on his YouTube channel.
“Four fast bowlers should have 100 per cent been there (in the Champions Trophy squad) because whatever we have seen of Mohammed Shami, he did take three wickets in the last match for sure and bowled decently, but he is far from ready,” Chopra said.
In Bumrah’s absence, the BCCI had added Harshit Rana as his replacement for three ODIs against England with pacer Mohammed Siraj not finding himself in contention for both series. Chopra, however, reckons the Hyderabad bowler could be back in the squad.
“I feel a fast bowler will get added. In whose place he will be, we shall find out. I feel Siraj will go to the Champions Trophy,” Chopra said.