That day may not be far away. Shahbaz, 27, was part of Team India’s ODI team in Zimbabwe as a replacement for an injury Washington Sundar. A slow left-handed spinner and under-performing mid-range chainsaw, Shahbaz started trading for Bengal and RCB. But he comes from the Muslim-majority Nuh in Haryana’s Mewat, dubbed India’s most backward district by Niti Aayog.
Shahbaz’s choice spurred general fun in an area where sporty models are rare. “There is no shortage of talent in Mewat. They need to be found and provided a platform. Ramzan Chaudhary, an activist and head of All India Mewati Samaj, said.
Shahbaz, who was included in Team India’s ODI squad in Zimbabwe replacing Washington Sundar, has impressed everyone with his skills and ambient temperament since making his first division debut in 2015. 2018.
He scored 116 points and racked up eight goals in a brave but futile attempt to win the game for his adoptive state, Bengal, against Madhya Pradesh in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy year. now.
As a child, Shahbaz discovered his obsession with cricket in the two-player matches he played with his father. The boy will hit the ball, his father will bowling. “He has been playing cricket since he was four years old. I had to paint him for hours together.
“Eventually, I will get tired, but not him! Just to end the game, I hit a loose ball, which he would hit for ‘six’. The match has to be over because the ball will be lost,” grinned Jaan Ahmed, 50, who works as a reader at the subdivision magistrate’s court in Nuh.
Within a few years, Jaan Ahmed was transferred to Hathin in Palwal district, where Shahbaz found an academy to train and a private school to study. He is a civil engineer from Manav Rachna University in Faridabad.
But cricket remains his passion to this day. “After turning 15, he traveled 13km alone by bus every day to work as a coach. My job doesn’t allow me to travel with him and I don’t have the money to send him a car.
Jaan Ahmed, who has played a few cricket matches for the Shikrawa team himself, said: “He also attended many camps of the Haryana Cricket Association but was never selected for the Ranji Trophy.
Shahbaz Ahmed (BCCI/IPL Photo)
People around hitting the ball eventually moved to Kolkata. In the local league, his exploits for the Tapan Memorial Club caught the eye of the fans.
PTI reported that in 2016, Sourav Ganguly, head of the Bengal Cricket Association, urged U-23 team coach Sourasish Lahiri to consider him for the team. The pivotal moment in his career was his pick by Royal Challengers Bangalore, the IPL brand then captained by Virat Kohli.
Mohammad Farukh, a school principal in Nuh, said: “The first thing he bought from his IPL income was a 42-inch TV for his grandfather. “Prior to the RCB selection, he shared accommodation with two other players. Since he is not good at cooking, he tells his roommate that he will make the dishes. He never revealed this to us, lest we worry and ask him to come home,” Farukh chuckled.
Abnam’s mother, a housewife, is praying for him to play at least one game during his tour of Zimbabwe. And she ordered a new display of the medals and titles she expected him to bring. “I am very proud,” Abnam said.
Shahbaz Ahmed (BCCI/IPL Photo)
“They may not have put him in the team for the first two games. But once they win this series, I hope that he will have a chance to play in the Indian shirt in the final match.” she speaks.
Before boarding the flight, a CAB note quoted Shahbaz as saying: “Every cricketer wants to wear the colors of India. Being called up to the Indian team is a dream come true. Whenever I play for Bengal, I give my all. “Team Bengal believed in me. If given the chance, I hope I can win matches for India by my batting and bowling. I hope the team can count on me. ”
