Ace India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that everything in Indian cricket ‘runs on indirect speech’, a practice which should change, adding that Mohammed Shami’s outburst against Ajit Agarkar means
that he doesn’t have clarity over his non-selection, although he lauded the latter for his smooth handling of the scene.
During the team selection press conference, Agarkar admitted he was not aware of
Shami’s current fitness status after the pacer was left out of the Test team for the England tour.The rift deepened after Agarkar questioned Shami’s fitness and form, adding that he plans to hold discussions soon to clear the air.
“I will say one thing frankly, everything in Indian cricket runs on indirect speech. I really wish that it would change. It has to change from both the players’ side and the selectors’ side as well,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“What I have noticed is that if something indirect is said, it is bound to come out in the news. Look what Shami did. He performed and then talked in the press conference; there is nothing wrong with that,” Ashwin said.
“But why is he (Shami) talking all of this? Because he doesn’t have clarity. But, at the same time, I really loved how Ajit Agarkar handled it. I really hope that phone call has happened,” Ashwin added.
Shami last turned out for India during the Champions Trophy earlier this year, serving as the team’s lone frontline pacer in the XI.
Shami registered figures of 3/37 and 4/38 across the two innings to power Bengal to an eight-wicket victory over Uttarakhand in the Ranji Trophy.
The out-of-favour India pacer exploited the morning conditions on the final day of play to return figures of 4/38 in less than 25 overs, while Akash Deep and Ishan Porel bagged two wickets apiece as the visitors were bundled out for 265.
