Mohammed Shami to Complete 100 First-Class Matches, CAB to Felicitate Veteran Pacer

India’s pace-bowling stalwart Mohammed Shami will be felicitated by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) in Chennai on Saturday for reaching the milestone of 100 first-class appearances, a day ahead of the Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The 36-year-old, currently in 99 first-class matches, has claimed 382 wickets, including career-best figures of 8/90, underlining his longevity and impact in domestic cricket.

Shami played a key role in East Zone’s run to the final, taking five wickets across two innings as defending champions Central Zone were knocked out. His spell, alongside Mukesh Kumar’s contribution, helped East Zone overcome a difficult contest and book their place in the title clash. East Zone will now face South Zone, who defeated North Zone by seven wickets to reach the final.

To mark the landmark, CAB will present Shami with a cricket ball autographed by president Sourav Ganguly, a customised No. 100 jersey and a silver salver. CAB treasurer Sanjoy Das will honour the pacer, describing him as the “pride of Bengal cricket” and an “absolute legend”. The milestone places Shami among an elite group of Indian cricketers to have completed a century of first-class appearances.

The achievement also comes at an important stage of Shami’s career. He has been out of the Indian national team since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025 and was not included in the immediate squad plans, including the upcoming New Zealand series. However, he has continued to play domestic cricket, using the demanding first-class schedule to maintain match fitness and press his case for another international comeback.

His recent domestic performances have strengthened that argument. During the Duleep Trophy semi-final, Shami reached the remarkable milestone of 900 wickets across professional cricket, combining his first-class, List A and T20 wickets. He became only the sixth Indian bowler to reach the landmark.

Shami’s international résumé remains formidable. He has taken 229 Test wickets in 64 matches, 206 ODI wickets in 108 matches and 27 T20I wickets in 25 matches. His 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, in which he finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets, remains one of the defining achievements of his career.

His return during the 2025 Champions Trophy, after a prolonged injury absence, further demonstrated his resilience. Shami took nine wickets in five matches as India won the tournament, but subsequent selection decisions have kept him outside the national setup.

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan has backed the veteran, highlighting his fitness, work ethic and hunger to continue playing at the highest level. For Shami, therefore, the 100th first-class appearance is more than a ceremonial milestone. It celebrates a remarkable domestic career while providing another platform for the veteran pacer to prove that he still has something to offer Indian cricket.