Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has publicly demanded that the BCCI explain why Mohammed Shami continues to be left out of the Indian squad, after the pacer was omitted from all three squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour. Shami was excluded from the T20I squad announced on October 6, 2026, and from both the ODI and Test squads announced on October 16, 2026.
The New Zealand tour comprises five T20Is starting October 22, five ODIs starting November 4, and two Tests starting November 19, 2026. No official reason has been given by the BCCI for Shami's continued omission across all three formats. Kaif questioned the selectors' reasoning and drew a direct comparison with how Jasprit Bumrah's workload is managed.
"I believe there should be transparency. Come forward and tell us what the reason is. He is doing everything right. He is playing Ranji, he is taking wickets, what could possibly be the reason? I read somewhere that he is not being selected because he is bowling only short spells. Jasprit Bumrah also bowls short spells, he gets a break after that. In England, when his workload was being managed, Shubman Gill had to manage him with short spells," Kaif said, speaking to Cricbuzz.
Why has Shami been left out despite strong domestic form?
Shami's omission has drawn attention given his performances in domestic cricket. In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, he claimed 37 wickets in seven matches for Bengal at an average of 16.72, including three five-wicket hauls. He also picked up five wickets in the first innings of the Ranji season opener against Services in October 2026.
Concerns over Shami's fitness have persisted within the selection setup despite those numbers. In September and October 2025, then chief selector Ajit Agarkar raised questions about the pacer's fitness and match readiness. In May 2026, Agarkar stated that selectors had not discussed a Test comeback for Shami, adding that the information available at the time suggested his body was better suited to T20 cricket.
Shami last represented India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final in March 2025. His last Test appearance came in the World Test Championship final in June 2023. On October 10, 2026, Shami addressed his omission directly, saying: "If I don't get the chance to play for India again, it's not my loss".
What does Shami's record against New Zealand suggest?
Kaif also pointed to Shami's career record against New Zealand as a reason why his absence is significant. Shami has claimed 15 wickets across four Tests and 27 wickets in 12 ODIs against the Blackcaps at an average of 22.44. In ODIs specifically, he has 38 wickets in 16 matches against New Zealand at an average of 21.15. Kaif highlighted Shami's impact in the 2023 ODI World Cup as further evidence of his value against this opposition.
"Go and ask the New Zealand batters about who they would not want to face. The first bowler that they will name is Mohammed Shami. He won the match single-handedly for us in Dharamshala against them in the 2023 ODI World Cup, and you can add the semi-final at the Wankhede as well. I am telling you this, if you tell New Zealand batters that Mohammed Shami is not coming, they will be breathing a sigh of relief as we speak," Kaif said.
Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, aged 36, was recalled to the T20I squad for the New Zealand tour after a gap of nearly four years, a selection that drew further scrutiny given Shami's continued exclusion.
