Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has come down heavily on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors, questioning their communication practices and the handling of senior Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the national team. Despite Shami’s consistent performances for Bengal on the domestic circuit, Tiwary feels the selectors have failed to maintain transparency and basic communication with the veteran bowler.
Shami, who was India’s leading player during the 2023 ODI World Cup before suffering a series of injuries, spent an extended period on the sidelines during his recovery. After months of rehabilitation, he returned to the national setup for the Champions Trophywhere India lifted the trophy. However, his comeback was short-lived. Since then, Shami has struggled to break back into the Indian XI, particularly on the Test side – an area where India continue to rely heavily on experienced fast bowlers.
Speaking to India Today in an exclusive interview, Tiwary expressed his dismay at what he described as an apparent breakdown of trust and clarity in the team environment. “There seems to be a lack of trust and understanding in the team circle. Mohammed Shami has taken wickets consistently for Bengal but has not been picked for Tests or even ODIs in Australia,” he said.
Formerly, Chief Collector Ajit Agarkar spoke about Shami’s absence during the West Indies Test serieshe admitted that the panel had no clear information about the condition of the pacemaker. “I don’t have any updates. He played in the Duleep Trophy but he hasn’t played much cricket in the last two-three years. As an artist, we know what he can do but he has to play cricket,” Agarkar said.
However, Tiwary strongly pushed back against this explanation, saying it was the responsibility of the coaches, physios and management to inform the selectors. More importantly, he emphasized that players of Shami’s stature deserve direct communication rather than being left in the dark.
“The selectors said there is no fitness update. But whose job is it? Coaches and physios should be providing updates. At least pick up the phone and ask the player,” he pointed out. “He’s a senior player who has contributed for years – at least you can call him. That’s the responsibility of the coach and the selection committee.”
While Shami continues to serve Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, there is still uncertainty over his international future. For now, Tiwary’s comments have reignited a long-running debate about communication gaps between India’s selectors and players – an issue he believes remains unresolved at a critical time for Indian cricket.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
November 20, 2025
