NEW DELHI: Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara expressed frustration over Mohammed Shami's repeated snubs from the national team despite his strong domestic performances, urging the selectors to have an honest conversation with the pacer to resolve any differences.
Shami hasn't featured in international cricket since the Champions Trophy final in Dubai in March this year, with his fitness becoming a major talking point amid a brief public exchange between chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the pacer himself.
However, Shami has since silenced doubts over his fitness with strong performances in domestic cricket, picking up 15 wickets in his last three Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal this season.
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Ahead of the first Test in Kolkata, Pujara told the media that the team management and selectors should maintain clear communication with the pacers regarding the team's plans and strategies moving forward.
"Someone like Mohammed Shami should be having – I mean, the selectors and the team management should have a very honest conversation with him. What's the plan going forward? Whether they want to pick him or whether they are looking at the young players," said Pujara.
"If he is being informed that they are not looking at him, then it is always Shami's personal call whether he wants to carry on playing first-class cricket, whether he still wants to - I mean, he is part of the IPL as well. So, he would want to carry on playing cricket."
"The communication from the team management has to be very, very clear and it should be very honest conversation and Shami should be part of it," said Pujara.
Indian captain Shubman Gill also opened up on the exclusion of Shami from the squad, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision.
"Not many bowlers are of his quality. The ones who are playing have done a terrific job. It's tough for someone like Shami bhai to miss out, but the selectors can explain that better," he said.
