India fast bowler Mohammed Shami failed to pass a fitness test and was replaced by Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini for Afghanistan‘s inaugural Test which begins in Bengaluru on Monday.

The BCCI announced that Shami failed to pass a fitness Test at the National Cricket Academy, which means one of the premier fast bowlers in the country will be unavailable for selection for the historic Test.

In his absence, Ishant Sharma will lead India’s pace attack alongside Umesh Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

The development is the latest setback for Shami whose personal life was rocked by allegations of improper conduct by his estranged wife in March this year.

Meanwhile, the Indian main squad requested for India A fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Rajneesh Gurbani to bowl at them while training to prepare for the Test.

Apart from Shami, India will also be without regular captain Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha for the first Test which wouldn’t fill the Indian contingent with a lot of confidence against a dangerous Afghan team.