Shami ruled out of T20 World Cup; Pant may be included in team if he can keep

NEW DELHI: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has given updates on the availability of injured cricketers Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant for the upcoming T20 World Cup. In an interview given to national media, Jay Shah said that pacer Mohammed Shami, who is resting after undergoing surgery, will miss the coming IPL season and Twenty20 World Cup.

"Shami is just recovering. He has returned to India after the surgery. Shami will be back to full health by September. He is likely to make his comeback during Bangladesh's tour of India in September," Jay Shah said.

Shami has not been on the field since the ODI World Cup held last year. Shami's absence will be a big loss for India in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Shah also opened up on the prospects of the wicket-keeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been out of the field for 15 months due to a car accident, in the Twenty20 World Cup.

"If Rishabh Pant can keep, he will be in the World Cup team. Pant is still not fit enough to play international cricket," he said.

"He is practising at the National Cricket Academy. Pant will get a fitness certificate soon. If Pant is in the team, it is an asset for the Indian team. If he can keep, he will be in the World Cup team. Let's see how he plays in IPL," Shah added.

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals team director Sourav Ganguly said that Pant will play as a batter for the franchise in the IPL.