(Reuters) – According to India’s cricket board (BCCI), seamer Mohammed Shami will not be participating in two test matches against South Africa. Additionally, bowler Deepak Chahar has withdrawn from the one-day international series. Shami’s last appearance in a test match took place during India’s World Test Championship final loss to Australia in June. He had been selected for the two tests, conditional on passing a fitness test.
“Mr Mohd Shami, whose participation in the test series was subject to fitness has not been cleared by the BCCI medical team and the fast bowler is ruled out of the two tests,” the BCCI said in a statement.
It was also stated that “Mr Deepak Chahar has informed the BCCI that he will not be available for the upcoming ODI series due to a family medical emergency. The men’s selection committee has named Mr Akash Deep as his replacement.”
India’s tour of South Africa commenced with a three-match Twenty20 International series, which concluded with a tie after the first game was abandoned due to rain. The upcoming ODIs are scheduled to take place between Dec. 17-21, followed by the first test on Dec. 26 in Pretoria. The second test is set to begin on Jan. 3 at Newlands in Cape Town.
The BCCI also announced that batter Shreyas Iyer will only participate in the first of the three ODIs against South Africa before joining the test squad.
The ODI squad for India consists of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (captain), Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Michael Perry)
