T20 World Cup: I was out of India’s T20I squad but not out of practice, says Mohammed Shami | Cricket News

ADELAIDE: He hasn’t been part of the T20 scheme of things in the last one year, but Mohammed Shami was “always ready” in his mind because of the communication between him and the team management.
The veteran Indian seamer last played T20Is during the UAE World Cup, after which it was decided that he will only feature in Tests and ODIs.
But Jasprit Bumrah‘s stress fracture of the back, an injury to Deepak Chahar, and Avesh Khan’s loss of form forced the team management to recall Shami for the mega event.
“It all depends on preparation, and the team management always tells you to get ready,” Shami said in the mixed zone after India beat Bangladesh by five runs here on Wednesday.
“As and when the team requires, you will get the call, is what we are always told. If you have seen my videos, I am never without practice and I always continue my training,” the veteran of 200- plus test wickets said.

Shami has been cooling his heels since playing on the England tour, and was recalled for the twin T20 series against South Africa and Australia before COVID-19 laid him low.
“It’s not always easy to switch from one format to another red and white balls. It’s about how well you connect with the team and how well you bond with them,” Shami said of his relationship with the current setting spoken.
“Those are things that depend, and secondly, yes, I am playing T20Is after last World T20 and I agree that a player needs confidence and flow more than the color of the ball. Of course you need practice.”
Shami, who usually bowls one change and in the middle overs, gave an insight into his practice.
“Call it experience, I’m always ready. If you see me in matches, I always bowl with new ball, but when it comes to practice, I usually choose semi-new or old ball.
“If you get that advantage during the game, that’s good. It’s just that you need confidence that you can carry it out in game situations,” he said.

According to the seamer, executing the plans during the death overs is about a tough mindset and staying calm under pressure.
“I always believe that you have to have faith in your skills, and in these situations you have to stay calm, and years of experience come in handy.
“When the ball gets wet, there are 50 things that play in your mind and mainly whether you will be perfectly able to carry out your plans or not,” he explained.
He supplemented his logic by explaining why Arshdeep Singh got the last over in the match against Bangladesh.
“There were 20 runs left and it was the captain’s choice and you want to look ahead. Also his yorkers were spot on so the captain might have wanted to boost his confidence,” Shami said.
While India had an advantage once the game was cut short, Shami was confident that 185 was defendable despite a good start by Litton Das.

“185 is a good T20 score on any day and on any surface. Yes, rain has come and that’s a different thing.
“When the target was revised they needed almost 10 runs an over (85 from 9 overs) and it wasn’t easy. The ball got wet and it got close but the skill and quality shown by our boys was shown, was good for us.”
The ball, after the rain break, became wet, but Shami refused to believe that it only helped the batsmen.
“Yes, the ball slides which makes it easier to bat, but you also have a chance of getting wickets as batsmen may be able to reach late with the ball moving faster. It’s a 50-50 thing.”
In October last year, Shami was mercilessly trolled on social media after Pakistan’s loss in the T20 World Cupand this time he went steady over four games without being exceptional.
“True fan doesn’t turn you from hero to zero overnight. If you are a true cricket lover, you should be able to support your favorite player in good times and bad,” he concluded.