Uncapped Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini has been called in the Indian Test squad as a replacement for unfit Mohammed Shami for the one-off historic Test match against Afghanistan, starting June 14 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Announcing the news, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that the move has been made after Shami failed to clear the fitness test at National Cricket Academy.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Navdeep Saini as Mohammed Shami’s replacement in the Indian Test team for the upcoming Paytm Test against Afghanistan. The announcement came after Mohd. Shami failed to clear the fitness test at NCA, Bengaluru,” the BCCI said in a press release.
Saini was pivotal in Delhi’s runner-up finish in the 2017-18 Ranji season bagging a total of 34 wickets in eight games.
He has bagged a total of 96 wickets in 31 first-class matches he played while he has grabbed 31 wickets in 20 List A games.
The Indian team management has requested India A fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Rajneesh Gurbani to attend the training sessions of the Indian team and bowl in the nets. A request was also made for Ankit Rajpoot, but the Uttar Pradesh fast bowler is unwell.
The BCCI also named Ishan Kishan as the replacement for Sanju Samson, who failed Yo-Yo test. He will join the India “A” team for series against England Lions and West Indies A.
The India ‘A’ tour of England will kick start from June 22.
