'It hurts that players like him are not in the team' - Wasim Jaffer on Mohammed Shami ahead of AFG vs IND T20Is

Mohammed Shami remains absent from India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins on September 13. The exclusion has drawn attention from former India batter Wasim Jaffer, who has questioned the decision to leave out the experienced fast bowler.

Shami recently played for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026, where he demonstrated his bowling prowess by picking up seven wickets from three matches at an average of 26.57. His recent domestic form has intensified scrutiny around his non-selection for the Afghanistan series, despite his strong performance in the tournament.

"Shami bowled really well and I saw how he set the batters up. It is unfortunate that he is still having to prove himself even now. I don't know what to say," Jaffer said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"We have to wait till the team for the New Zealand series is picked and see what the selectors think. It is very unfortunate as there are very few like him with that craft. It hurts that players like him are not in the team," he added.

Shami's international career has been marked by extended gaps. He last played international cricket in 2025 during the Champions Trophy final and last featured in Test cricket in 2023. Despite his recent strong domestic performance, he has not been included in the squad for the Afghanistan T20Is.

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Jaffer also addressed the inclusion of fit-again Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, explaining the reasoning behind the star pacer's selection for the Afghanistan series, despite the Asian Games coming up later this month. Bumrah was out of action due to injury but is now fit and set to return to competitive cricket. Jaffer noted that match practice ahead of major tournaments is important for players returning from injury, particularly with the Asian Games 2026 approaching.

"I think playing some cricket is also important for Bumrah. The team will go to the Asian Games from here, so there has to be some cricket under his belt. If he goes there directly, you will not have much margin, as it is a high-pressure tournament with every game being important. I feel that is why they picked him," Jaffer said.

"He has not played for a while now and I am sure he would want to play as well. Even the New Zealand series is coming up. If he is fit, he should play. He has not played for a while, so this is a good decision," he added.