Mohammed Shami's post after missing squad for Australia: Sorry to all fans and BCCI
New Delhi, Oct 27: India pacer Mohammed Shami has apologised to the fans and the BCCI after the board decided against rushing his return to the team for the high-profile tour of Australia as he is yet to attain match fitness.
Having underwent surgery, the seamer completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) but his return was derailed by swelling in his knees, even though Shami recently declared that he is pain free.
The 34-year-old Shami posted a video of his training on Instagram and said he would be back soon.
"Putting in my efforts and getting better with my bowling fitness day-by-day. Will continue working hard towards getting ready for the match and to play domestic red ball cricket. Sorry to all cricket fans and bcci too, but very soon I'm ready to play red ball cricket , love you all," Shami wrote.
Shami, whose return to competitive cricket following a long lay-off due to injury has been one of the talking points in the run-up to the tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is expected to play in Bengal's next Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka in the first week of November.
While he was not considered for the five-match Test series Down Under, his comments came after India lost the Test rubber against New Zealand, their first series loss at home in 12 years.
In Shami's absence, the Indian pace attack will comprise Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep and youngsters like Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana.
Fast bowlers Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed will be travelling as reserves for the series.
Shami last played in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia and has since been sidelined due to an ankle injury for which he underwent surgery earlier this year.
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25 killed, 6 injured in fire at nightclub in Goa
Panaji (PTI): At least 25 persons were killed and six others suffered injuries in a massive fire that erupted at a nightclub in North Goa after midnight on Sunday, police said.
While the police earlier said 23 persons died in the fire, they later confirmed two more deaths.
The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora in North Goa has claimed 25 lives, a police spokesperson said.
The deceased included four tourists and 14 staff members, while the identity of the remaining seven was yet to be established, he said.
Six persons suffered injuries in the blaze and they are currently undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, near here, the official said.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, he said.
"The police and fire department are conducting the investigation and legal action is being taken," the official said.
As per initial information, the nightclub had not abided by the fire safety norms, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.
The nightclub, a popular party venue at Arpora village, located around 25 km from the state capital Panaji, opened last year.
“We will take action against the club management and also against the officials who allowed it to operate despite flouting safety norms,” Sawant said.
“This is an unfortunate incident during the peak tourist season in the coastal state,” Sawant said. “We will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and stringent action will be taken against the guilty,” he added.
