Negi, Shami included for World T20 and Asia Cup

Yuvraj’s last-over heroics in the third T20 against Australia have ensured his place in the team.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Indian team has been selected for the upcoming high-voltage tournaments – ICC T20 World Cup and Asia Cup by the national selectors in a meeting that was organized here on Friday.

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, meanwhile, has been retained after making an impressive debut in Australia, while Mohammad Shami has been drafted into the squad.

Some eyebrows were raised when Shami’s name was announced but chief selector Sandeep Patil said his committee zeroed in on the Bengal pacer after several discussions. Pawan Negi, who recently received his maiden worldwide call-up, also makes the cut for both the multi-nation tournaments.

“Shami has 30 days for proving his fitness”.

Hardik Pandya, Jaspreet Bumrah and Seniors like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra also find a place in the World T20 squad.

India are going into the Asia Cup and World T20 with three frontline spinners, namely Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan and Ravichandran Ashwin.

In the World Twenty20 championship, India have been seeded in the Super 10 and will play New Zealand in their opening game on March 15 at Nagpur’s VCA Stadium in Jamtha.