It’s better we are playing IPL before Australia series: Mohammed Shami

Tags: Indian T20 League 2020, Mohammed Shami Ahmed

Published on: Sep 13, 2020

Experienced India pacer Mohammed Shami believes that the IPL 2020, to be held in the UAE from September 19 to November 10, will be a good preparation for the tough Australia tour to follow. Indian cricketers haven’t played any international cricket since the tour of New Zealand earlier this year owing to the Coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc

"It would be great that the Australia-bound players are playing IPL. It will set the body and momentum perfectly by then. I feel it's better that we are playing the IPL before a big series. Apart from the IPL, everyone is also focused on that (Australia) tour. There is a lot of talk about that series. We will have a good contest," Shami told PTI.

India’s tour of Australia is scheduled to begin in December. Shami was part of the squad that created history Down Under last time India toured there. While India became the first Asian side to win a Test series in Australia, the same came against a weak side missing Steve Smith and David Warner owing to their ball-tampering bans.

Coming back to the IPL, Shami admits that travelling will not be as hectic this time as the games will be restricted to three venues -- Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. "Yes, there're [usually] back-to-back matches, training, travelling, that's a bit of headache. But it's a short format, short matches, physically there should not be any workload issue. This time, there won't be much travelling. You will have to travel just about for two hours by bus (when there is a match in Abu Dhabi),” the man with 180 Test and 144 ODI scalps added.

He went on to add that everyone is excited to get back on the cricket field following the forced break due to Coronavirus. "It has been a long time since we played cricket. Everyone is happy like kids in a candy store after getting back to the sport they love the most. We had a practice match on Thursday, I didn't face any issues. Everyone is getting back to rhythm,” Shami stated.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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