Shami Dismisses Retirement Speculation

Veteran Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has firmly denied recent reports suggesting his retirement from cricket. He asserted that he remains committed to the sport.

During an interview this past Wednesday, Shami questioned the motivations of those spreading such rumors. He wondered why certain individuals seemed so eager for him to retire.

“If someone has an issue, they should voice it. Who benefits from my retirement?” Shami stated.

The 34-year-old player clarified that he would only contemplate retirement if he lost his enthusiasm or became weary of the sport.

Until that time, he intends to continue participating in cricket, whether in domestic circuits or other avenues, whenever he is not selected for international matches.

“Tell me whose life is burdened by my presence that they desire my retirement? The moment I feel jaded, I will step away. If you don’t select me or play me, it doesn’t concern me,” he expressed.

“However, I will persist in my hard work. Even if I’m not chosen for international games, I will engage in domestic cricket. I will continue playing in some capacity. Retirement is a decision made when one begins to feel disinterested, when the thought of waking up early for a Test match becomes unappealing. That moment hasn’t arrived for me. I’ll be ready to rise early if needed,” he added.

Shami, who was recently omitted from the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy squad in England, was also excluded from India’s roster for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025, indicating a reduced role in the limited-overs formats.

Nevertheless, he remains resolute in prolonging his international career and is focused on achieving a final ambition: securing victory in the ODI World Cup in 2027.

“I have only one aspiration remaining, and that is to triumph in the ODI World Cup. I aspire to be an integral part of that team, perform exceptionally, and bring the ODI World Cup title home,” he affirmed.

“We came very close in 2023. We had a strong intuition, yet we also harbored a concern due to our unbroken winning streak leading into the knockout stage. There was some apprehension. However, the fervor and confidence of the supporters inspired us. It was a dream within reach, but perhaps fate had other plans,” he concluded.

In the interim, the 34-year-old has been named in the East Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy and is anticipated to participate in their match against North Zone, commencing on August 28 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.