# Indian cricket team selection controversy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indian-cricket-team-selection-controversy > Updated: 2026-09-18T04:59:12.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Debate has emerged regarding the selection of veteran fast bowlers for the Indian national cricket team. Initially, former bowling coach Bharat Arun criticized the BCCI selection committee for the exclusion of Mohammed Shami, arguing that his age should not be a deciding factor given his durability and recent milestone of 100 first-class matches. At that time, chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that selectors did not believe Shami was fit for red-ball cricket. Following these developments, both Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were omitted from the squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies. Commentators have noted that this exclusion, despite consistent domestic and IPL performances, suggests a strategic shift toward prioritizing younger talent such as Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav. While the omissions have led to speculation that the international careers of these veteran pacers may be concluding, no official statement has been issued by selectors regarding their status. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-18: Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar omitted from India squad Experienced Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were omitted from the West Indies series squad, leading to speculation that selectors are prioritizing younger players for the future. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mohammed-shami-and-bhuvneshwar-kumar-omitted-from-india-squad ### 2026-09-05: Bharat Arun criticizes selectors for excluding Mohammed Shami Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has questioned BCCI selectors for excluding Mohammed Shami, arguing that the pacer's consistent domestic performance and durability should outweigh age concerns. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bharat-arun-criticizes-selectors-for-excluding-mohammed-shami --- Cite as: Indian cricket team selection controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indian-cricket-team-selection-controversy