“If you want to contribute…”: Zaheer Khan’s advice to Mohammed Shami

Despite delivering consistent performances in domestic cricket, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami continues to wait for a recall to the national side. The veteran has not featured in Indian colours since the Champions Trophy 2025, where he played five games and took nine wickets. Since then, selectors have preferred other bowlers, leaving Shami on the sidelines. Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has now offered clear advice, urging Shami to stay focused on what he can control. “It is your decision, the way you want to move forward. If you are playing matches and performing well, you remain available. I see things that way. The team’s thinking is different, but your way of thinking is important. If you want to contribute, it is your decision. The way the team is looking at things and what is going on in the scheme of things, sometimes you can analyse how you are thinking. But how can you contribute to that? As a player, you should do what Shami is doing. He is playing. As you said, he is playing matches. That is important,” Zaheer told the Times of India. Shami’s fitness has often been cited as a reason for his absence. However, he has repeatedly answered those questions with strong performances in domestic cricket. “Injuries are part and parcel of the game. They are part and parcel of every individual’s journey. You can talk about workload management, but you also need to understand the timing of events. You can see some things, but overall, you have to plan accordingly,” Zaheer added. “If a fast bowler sustains an injury or goes through a difficult phase, it is very important to control the things in your hands. You have to control them properly. Until you know the root cause, you can’t move forward,” he said. Zaheer’s message is straightforward: keep performing, stay available, and focus on contribution rather than over-analysing selection decisions.