Bengal named their SMAT 2025 squad with Mohammed Shami returning after injury to strengthen the pace attack.
Bengal announced their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy(SMAT) 2025 team with a major boost as Mohammed Shami returned after a strong Ranji Trophy start. Shami delivered 20 wickets in four matches during the opening phase of the season and regained full fitness after a recent leg injury. He had featured in four of Bengal’s five Ranji games and had taken15 wickets in the first two fixtures, that pushed the team to the top of Group C.
Bengal also named Akash Deep in the 17-member squad, which will be led by Abhimanyu Easwaran.
In the team, keeper-batter Abhishek Porel returns after a stint with India A at the Rising Asia Cup. Shakir Habib Gandhi joins him as the second wicketkeeping option. Bengal compete in Group C and open their campaign against Baroda in Hyderabad on November 26.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami revealed that he remains focused on earning an India comeback. He had missed selection for the white-ball series in Australia and the ongoing Tests against South Africa. Shami continues to prioritise fitness as he builds on his strong domestic performances.
“My motivation is to stay fit and be available for the India team. It’s not my job to update selectors on fitness,” the pacer had said earlier during the Ranji Trophy.
SMAT 2025 Bengal Full Squad
Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Sudip Gharami, Abishek Porel (WK), Shakir Habib Gandhi (WK), Yuvraj Keswani, Priyanshu Srivastav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pradipta Pramanik, Writtick Chatterjee, Karan Lal. Saksham Chaudhary, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Sayan Ghosh, Kanishk Seth, Yudhajit Guha, Shreyan Chakraborty.
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