Bumrah fully fit, may be picked for Ireland T20s: BCCI secretary Shah

India will be sending a second string squad for the T20I series in Ireland but a fit-again pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be tested during the three matches in Malahide, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on Thursday.

Bumrah is currently doing his extensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru post surgery to cure his lower back stress fracture and is expected to play a couple of warm-up games before a final call is taken on his selection.

"Bumrah is totally fit and he may go to Ireland," Shah told reporters in New Delhi.

He also said that with 12 ODIs left before the World Cup, the endeavour will be to have a consistency in selection.

"There will be consistency in selections apart from Ireland tour," Shah added, making it clear that save Bumrah, who will be making a comeback, none of the World Cup bound senior players, including T20 captain Hardik Pandya will be selected for the three-match series which starts within six days of completion of the five T20Is against West Indies in the United States.
 
Shah also said that it is the duty of BCCI to see that other cricket boards are also in pink of health and hence there is so much of international cricket happening.

"For survival of other boards, we have to tour everywhere. Injuries will happen as there is so much of cricket. We need look after other boards also."

After the end of the World Cup, the shadow tours which last happened in December 2022 will start with India 'A' travelling to South Africa before the senior team's full tour while England Lions will be coming to India before their five-Test series against the 'A' side.

All senior players need to play domestic cricket

"Recently, senior players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav played Duleep Trophy. Whoever is not at NCA and not part of the Indian team will need to play domestic cricket. 80 per cent of the players have passed the fitness test," Shah said.

The BCCI secretary also informed that the board will not appeal for revocation or relaxation of Indian women's team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's two-match ban as the time for appeal is over.

However, BCCI president Roger Binny and NCA head V V S Laxman, the two gentlemen cricketers of their respective generations, are expected to counsel the temperamental Indian women's team captain in the coming days as per board directive.

Kaur was slapped a two-match ban by the ICC for her boorish behaviour during the third women's ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka where the Indian skipper was held guilty on two charges -- equipment abuse and public criticism of match officials. She was also fined 75 percent of her match fee.

• India in West Indies 2023