Mohammed Shami
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Early life
Mar 20 2015
THE MAKING OF THE INDIAN SPEARHEAD
Avijit Ghosh
Amroha (UP)
The lean middle-aged gentleman who was the father of Mohd Shami, had come with his teenage son on a summer evening and told the coach, “My son can bowl really fast. He terrorizes batsmen in his village. I want you to coach him.” It wasn't an unusual request. Over the years Badruddin Siddiqui, the coach at Moradabad's Subhash Chandra Bose stadium, would find shopkeepers and babus, farmers and cops -rough and ready men of western UP -approaching him with similar requests. They all believed their sons were special, the next Tendulkar or Brett Lee, possibly even better.
Badruddin looked at the lad. For his age, a callow 14-15, he looked built to last. He was wearing a T-shirt, track pants and sneakers. “Where's your all-white kit?“ the coach asked. “I don't have one,“ the boy replied. “I'll buy it soon.“
Badruddin asked him to bowl. The teenager didn't measure his run-up. He just trudged 20-22 steps, hurtled in and bowled. “The first ball was wide but pretty sharp,“ recalls the coach. “Several wides followed before he got one on the mark. But every ball he bowled for the next 30 minutes was of the same high speed. Usme jaan thi.“ “Fast bowler mein aur kuchch ho na ho jaan to honi hi chahiye. I told him he would have to practice at least six hours every day. He replied he would practice even more.“ Before leaving, the youngster gave his name: Mohammed Shami. “Shami broke one of the stumps with one of his deliveries on the day he first bowled in front of the man who would become his coach, Badruddin,“ recalls the speedster's father, Tauseef Ahmed, a well-heeled farmer with 22 acres of land where mango and guava orchards grow in Amroha district's Sahaspur village, about 20 km from the ground. Ironically , neither Badruddin nor Tauseef are sure of the year. It was 2004 or may be 2005. For the next few days, Shami was just asked to run, exercise, get fitter. Many kids get impatient at this stage, says the coach. But Shami was different. He followed the drill to the D. “He stood out immediately for his work ethic,“ says Badruddin, who in his playing days was “a medium pacer who could also bat“.
Much before IPL, Moradabad had its own 20-over league. Two teams would be set up from the boys who trained at the stadium. The coach named Shami in one of them. He failed in the first game but took five wickets in the next.
Badruddin remembers two attributes of his most famous ward. “Even those days, Shami had a decent in-cutter.And after a match ended, he would ask for the old balls.“ Shami was addicted to shining one side of an old ball. Even while walking in the bylanes of his village Sahaspur, he would toss the ball in the air. “He had a certain junoon, a madness, about him,“ says Badruddin.
A year later, the coach decided to take him for the Uttar Pradesh under-19 trials in Kanpur. “Shami made it to the final round. But in the end, the selectors patted him on the back and said, `work hard and come back next year',“ recalls Badruddin. “Shami was absolutely gutted.I was about 20 meters away . It seemed like a mile for him. He could hardly walk.When we came back to Moradabad, he didn't come to practice for 3-4 days. I had to counsel him, make him aware that the road to success isn't exactly strewn with roses,“ says Badruddin.
Shami started playing again. “That's when I got a call from Dalhousie Athletic Club, Kolkata. They needed a fast bowler.I spoke to his father. He said, `how can I send him so far?' I told him, `if he becomes a top cricketer, he will be playing away from home anyway'.“
Shami's rise in Kolkata has been well chronicled. What's little known is that Sourav Ganguly provided critical help at this stage. “Shami got selected for Bengal's under-22 squad but never got to play .One day , Dada asked for some net bowlers. After playing Shami's first ball, Dada asked him, `where do you play?' When he said he was among the reserves in the u-22 team, Ganguly was shocked. After the nets, he spoke to Shami for about 30 minutes. He must have called some people in CAB because after that Shami got to play in U-22. He got five wickets. It was a turning point for him,“ says Tauseef.
Since those early days, Shami has improved beyond recognition. But the fast bowler has also brought a fundamental change in the life of his coach. He laughs, “Now most of my new students are wannabe pacemen. Shami ko coach karke fast bowler ke coach ka stamp lag gaya.“
Career
2013-15, 2017-Jan 2019
Indian bowlers who took the quickest 100 wickets
From: January 24, 2019: The Times of India
See graphic:
Mohammed Shami, 2013-15, 2017-Jan 2019
Indian bowlers who took the quickest 100 wickets
2018- Jan 2019
Gaurav Gupta, January 30, 2019: The Times of India
Barely A Year Ago, Mohammed Shami’s Life And Career Was In Doldrums After Personal Issues And A Failed Yo-Yo Test. Now, He Is One Of India’s Go-To Men
It was a typically pleasant, slightly nippy March morning in Dharamshala, but Mohammed Shami, who was in town to play in the Deodhar Trophy, was feeling the chill. The India pacer’s estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, had just launched an all-out attack on the 28-year-old, her enraged face on every TV channel accusing him of infidelity. More embarrassingly for him, she had even made public his whatsapp conversations with a Pakistani lady.
Clearly worried about the turn of events, Shami had seemed distracted the previous evening and was smashed around for 96 runs off his 10 overs. Worse was to follow the next day: When the BCCI announced fresh contracts for the Indian players, Shami’s name was missing. Worried about the image of the Indian cricketer post the controversy, the BCCI had decided to withhold his contract.
The speedster, who was the hero of India’s memorable Test win in Johannesburg against South Africa, taking 5-28 in the second innings, had to now undergo an anti-corruption inquiry by the BCCI, which soon cleared him of any wrongdoing. Shami got his contract, but lost his place in the One-Day team after failing the yo-yo test.
Now, barely a year later, Shami is a certainty for the World Cup. Adversity seems to have made him better. That he had worked hard on his fitness was evident in England last summer, when he played all the five Tests of the series, taking 16 wickets to emerge as one of the few shining lights in a series which India lost 1-4.
Before going to Australia, Shami played a Ranji match for Bengal against Kerala with a rider that he couldn’t bowl more than 15 overs in an innings — he ended up bowling 26.
In Australia, combining superbly with Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, the fast bowler took 16 wickets in four Tests@26.18, as India’s pace battery played a huge part in the team’s 2-1 triumph Down Under. Picked for the ODIs after a long time, Shami put up a decent show in Australia, before coming into his own in New Zealand, getting the man of the match in the first and third ODIs. In three ODIs, he has picked seven wickets @14.71 prompting skipper Virat Kohli to compliment the pacer. “it’s the fittest that I’ve seen him,” he said.
“He’s the main reason why we are dominating opponents. He’s a captain’s delight. A few personal problems were pulling him down, but from this Australian tour, he’s been the difference between us and the opposition. He’s the ‘Virat Kohli’ of our bowling. It’s because of bowlers like him that a captain will feel that his team can pick 20 wickets of the opposition anytime. He’s in complete control of whatever he wants to bowl,” praised former India seamer Raju Kulkarni.
Shami’s sizzling form has gladdened the heart of chief selector MSK Prasad too. “He’s been phenomenal. Right through the last year, since the series against South Africa, he’s been bowling extremely well. Credit also must go to the fitness regimen that he’s been put under by Shankar (Basu, team India trainer) and Patrick (Farhart, physio). The bowling coach (Bharat Arun) has been working on him. Credit should also go to the workload management which has kept him fresh. We didn’t pick him against the West Indies at home against India,” Prasad told TOI. The former India stumper also praised the BCCI for standing by the pacer during his tough time.
Explaining what makes Shami so dangerous for batsmen, Prasad said: “According to biomechanics, the entire momentum should be directed towards the target. In this case, the target is the stumps. If you see a majority of his wickets, they’re either bowled or lbw. If you see his body, his rhythm, everything is directed towards the target — he’s blessed with it. Probably, that’s why he generates so much pace.”
Former India batsman and chief selector, Sandeep Patil, who picked Shami for India in early 2013, said: “I first saw him about eight years back-when I was a director at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), after Arun asked me to have a look at him. He was a special bowler. I feel so proud that I was a part of the system when these boys got selected. We got a lot of stick for dropping some greats, but today it’s been proved that it was an ideal decision.”
When Shami was dropped from the Indian team last year after failing to clear the yo-yo test, Patil had aired his views about the need to back the pacer in what was a difficult phase. “I’m happy to see him make a strong comeback. It’s not easy when your mind is unstable. I had said it that time that considering the rough time that he was going through, he deserved another crack at the yo-yo test,” he recalls.
A conversation with Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary, who is his close friend, gives one an idea about the steel that Shami’s made of. “It’s his immense mental strength that has helped him overcome that phase. All his personal issues were out in the public domain. I knew that he’d bounce back. His face or body language never gave me the indication that he was going through a tough time,” says Tiwary.
He tells you what helped Shami overcome the most tumultuous period in his life. “He deserves all the credit for his success because his vision was clear. He knew that if he had to overcome these issues, he had to keep his focus on cricket. He worked hard on his game, and kept himself away from all these issues. The best thing he did was that he wasn’t in Kolkata when this controversy erupted. He was in his native place (Amroha). That really helped him. He used to upload his practice videos from there,” Tiwary recalls.
What makes Shami a menacing bowler? “After Zaheer Khan, if there is one bowler I’ve seen who can land the ball on the seam, it’s Shami,” says Tiwary.
Tiwary, who played 12 ODIs and 2 T20Is for India, believes that like in the Tests, Shami can be India’s strike bowler in the ODIs too.
Patil, though, cautions that it’s crucial that Shami’s form lasts till the World Cup. “Seeing his rhythm and form, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he remains fit and consistent till the World Cup, because main picture abhi baaki hai!,” he says.
2018-2019, April
- Vivek Krishnan, June 24, 2019: The Times of India
After sitting out the first four games of India’s World Cup campaign, Mohammed Shami made a seamless return to the team. The 28-yearold pacer became the second Indian bowler after Chetan Sharma to take a World Cup hat-trick. Over the last 18 months, Shami has had a topsyturvy journey both on and off the field, but he seems to be fit and firing on all cylinders now. Here’s a look at his high and low points over that time:
MARCH 2018: A FIR was filed against Shami after allegations by his wife of domestic violence, attempted murder and rape. She also accused him of matchfixing. As a consequence, Shami’s name was withheld from the BCCI contracts list. However, the BCCI later included him in the contracts list after its (ACU) cleared him of corruption charges.
JUNE 2018: Shami failed the mandatory Yo-Yo test and was withdrawn from India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in Bengaluru. As Shankar Basu, the Indian team’s strength and conditioning coach, said a few days ago, the setback has been a blessing in disguise for Shami and the pacer got down to rigorous training.
OCTOBER 2018: With firstchoice pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar resting for the ODI series at home against West Indies, Shami earned an ODI recall after more than a year’s gap. He had taken 16 wickets after all five Tests in England and impressed everyone with his improved fitness and pace.
JANUARY 2019: Shami’s 50-over comeback extended to the Australia and New Zealand tours. Shami had done well in the preceding Test series against the Aussies and capitalised on his chance in the one-dayers in Bumrah’s absence. In seven matches across Australia and New Zealand, Shami took 14 wickets and played a key role in India’s historic series wins.
APRIL 2019: Shami’s hard work paid off when he was selected among India’s fifteen members for the World Cup. He became one of only seven players retained from the 2015 World Cup.
As in 2019 Oct
From: Oct 8, 2019: The Times of India
See graphic:
A summary of Shami’s career in Tests, in wins and overall, As in 2019, Oct
2023
World Cup
Gaurav Gupta, Nov 17, 2023: The Times of India
FROM THE SIDELINES TO SPOTLIGHT
Shami’s Spectacular World Cup Surge Is Scripting History And Answering The Trolls
Gaurav.Gupta@timesgroup.com
[Indpaedia.com’s note: This article does not include the final match of the World Cup]
Mumbai : Trent Boult and Tim Southee, one of the best fast bowling pairs in modern-day cricket, gave away 186 runs in their 20 overs in the World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Later in the evening, on a pata (flat) wicket, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, again world-class pacers, concede boundaries to New Zealand’s openers. There’s no movement on offer for the quicks, with the small size of the ground and extreme humidity making it worse for them.
And then, Mohammed Shami runs in for the first time in the match. His very first ball, a fullish delivery outside the off-stump, pitches in and moves off the seam, luring Devon Conway into a drive, which only results in an edge, pouched beautifully by a diving KL Rahul behind the stumps. In his next over, Shami bowls another peach, perhaps an even better delivery, which straightens after angling in, and gets the dangerous, in-form Rachin Ravindra’s edge. Thereafter, centurion Daryl Mitchell and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson enjoy a massive 181-run stand for the third wicket, giving India the jitters, before Shami returns to calm their nerves again.
A set Williamson hit the seamer’s delivery straight to Suryakumar Yadav at deep square leg, and is left agonised as Shami exults amidst deafening roars of the cheering crowd. Welcome to the ‘Shami Show.’
On a wicket where others struggled, Shami, moving the ball around like a puppet on a string, eventually finishing with an incredible haul of 7-57 — the best by a bowler in ODI World Cup knockouts, and the best-ever by an Indian in ODIs. It seems he’s bowling on a different planet at the moment.
While the magic that he’s conjuring up with the ball is the result of the pacer’s hardwork and perseverance and God-given skills, it must be noted that twice now he has signalled towards India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey after taking ‘fivers’, acknowledging the ex-India seamer’s contribution towards his World Cup high.
Post his team’s 70-run defeat to India and succumbing to Shami’s brilliance twice in the World Cup — he had a ‘fiver’ (5-54 at Dharamshala) against the Black Caps — Williamson is lavish in his praise for arguably the best white ball fast bowler in world cricket today.
“He’s only played probably half the games and he might be close to top wicket taker and coming on first change, behind two outstanding new ball bowlers. He’s without a doubt one of the top operators in the world and the way he moves the ball and he keeps bringing the stumps into play. It’s been quite phenomenal really, the amount of wickets he’s gotten in such a small amount of games in this tournament,” said Williamson.
Shubman Gill, admits that he finds it “difficult” to face Shami in the nets.
The numbers that Shami has achieved in this World Cup are staggering. With 23 wickets @9.13 in just six matches, he’s the highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Thrice in six games, he’s taken ‘fivers’. That’s as many as Bob Willis, Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Malcolm Marshall, Kapil Dev, Ravi Ashwin and Shane Warne have in their entire ODI careers combined (992 innings). Tormented by him at Lucknow during a dream spell, England’s Test captain Ben Stokes, a day after Shami took five for 18 against Sri Lanka, called him as the “bowler of the tournament”.
Indeed, the biggest mystery of this World Cup will be, why was Shami cooling his heels in the dressing room in the first four games, with the team management preferring the ‘all-round’ skills of Shardul Thakur over him?
Shami’s childhood coach Badruddin Siddiqui reveals that the team management’s decision to keep him out of initial games in the World Cup was something Shami took in his stride. “The biggest thing is that he was enjoying that fact also! He was waiting for his opportunity to prove his worth. He knew that the team was doing well, winning matches, but he’ll get his chance. He knew that he would be needed in the big games ahead,” Badruddin told TOI from Mo radabad, where a 14-year-old Shami first went to him, accompanied by his father, to learn the art of fast bowling. Soaking in his ward’s unparalleled success in the World Cup, which has made the coach a sought-after man by the media, Badruddin praises, “He is constantly bowling in one channel, which, for a fast bowler, is the most essential thing. His deliveries are pitching on the seam, and hence the ball is seaming around tremendously. When you keep bowling on one spot, the batsmen are clueless-they don’t know whether the ball will come in or go out. Once you do that, no fast bowler can be more effective than you.”
Recalling his first meeting with Shami, Badruddin said, “What impressed me about him was that he had loads of stamina, which is the main quality a fast bowler must have. At the trial nets, he maintained his pace from the first ball he bowled, to the ball he bowled after 30 minutes. That told me: ‘Is bande mein jaan hai (this guy has stamina). I can hone his game.’ That he would go on to be so successful was something which I never imagined back then.”
Controversies
Match fixing
March 2018/ BCCI clears Mohammed Shami of charges
March 23, 2018: The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
Shami has got a major boost after he was cleared by the BCCI of match-fixing charges levelled against him by his wife Jahan
Jahan had claimed that Shami had received unaccounted money from a Pakistani woman
With this development the path has been cleared for his participation with Delhi Daredevils in the IPL
Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami has got a major boost after he was cleared by the BCCI of match-fixing charges levelled against him by his wife Hasin Jahan, who had claimed that the cricketer had received unaccounted money from a Pakistani woman.
With this development the path has been cleared for his participation with Delhi Daredevils in the IPL starting April 7. BCCI will now proceed with offering him a Grade 'B' annual retainership contract, which will make him richer by Rs 3 crore.
Shami has taken 110 wickets in the 30 Tests he played so far while accounted 91 scalps in 50 ODIs. Shami also featured in 7 T20Is in which he managed eight wickets.
The BCCI had decided to withhold Shami's contract after Jahan made a series of allegations, including adultery and domestic violence, and lodged a police complaint against him. Shami has denied all the allegations.
"The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) had requested Mr Neeraj Kumar, former Police Commissioner of Delhi and Head of BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit, to investigate the allegations against Mohd. Shami in so far as they pertain to the provisions of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code," BCCI stated in a media release.
"Mr Neeraj Kumar has submitted his confidential report to the CoA. Based on the conclusions in the said report, the CoA is of the view that no further actions/proceedings under the BCCI anti-corruption code are warranted in the matter.
"For this reason, the BCCI shall proceed with offering a Grade 'B' annual retainership contract to Mohd. Shami," the release further stated. The BCCI top brass had always maintained that they will not sit in judgement about Shami's personal life. The charges of adultery and domestic violence are being investigated by the Kolkata Police and that is out of the Board's purview.
"This is a very good news for Shami and for Indian cricket. The charges of corruption against him looked too far-fetched. He has been a committed player for India. The BCCI is happy that he has come clean after a thorough investigation by its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). It is only fair that he can now earn his livelihood as a professional cricketer and should be back in the field for the upcoming IPL." BCCI's acting president said. IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua was also happy with the development as Shami is an integral part of their bowling unit.
"I have just received the confirmation from the BCCI that Shami has been absolved of all charges related to corruption allegations. It's a welcome news for the franchise and we are happy to have him back. We expect him to join the camp from the very first day," Dua said.
"When it came to corruption charges, we never had an iota of doubt that Shami is innocent. He is an honest cricketer and would have never done any such thing. We even spoke to Shami during this period. But we also have to follow the instructions of BCCI. It was only fair that the matter was investigated and he has come out clean," Dua added.
Pakistan woman admits meeting Shami, denies monetary deal
March 20, 2018: The Times of India
The controversy surrounding Mohammad Shami on Monday took another turn as Pakistani woman Alishba admitted meeting him in Dubai but refuted any monetary dealings with the India pacer as claimed by his wife.
Alishba’s name surfaced in the controversy after Shami’s wife Hasin Jahan alleged that he could have a relationship with the Pakistani woman. “Yes, I met him. I am a frequent flyer to Dubai because my sister stays in Sharjah. As a person, I really like Shami. As any fan that has idolised a celebrity, they always dream of meeting their idol. I had the desire to meet him (Shami) like any other fan would want to, which I don’t think is a big deal,” Alishba told a TV channel.
Alishba claimed she and Shami are just friends. “I am one of his followers, which is how I became Shami’s friend. Just like he has lakhs of followers, I am one among those normal fans. I have sent him messages,” she said. She has also denied knowing UK-based Mohammad bhai or entering a hotel -- as alleged by Hasin -- with Shami.
Pacer blames ‘third party’ for domestic row
Shami is blaming “a third party” for the allegations of domestic violence and extra-marital affairs hurled against him by his wife Hasain Jahan. He has denied the charges. Shami said this was not a work of Hasin and someone was involved, maybe due to greed of money.
Family life
Freeze in contract because of domestic troubles
March 9, 2018: The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
Delhi Daredevils are keeping a close tab on the Mohammed Shami controversy
Top Daredevils officials are set to meet BCCI brass to take a stock of the situation
Daredevils are now waiting for BCCI's legal opinion about whether they should allow the pacer to join their camp
Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Daredevils are keeping a close tab on the Mohammed Shami controversy as the top officials are set to meet BCCI brass to take a stock of the situation after his wife Hasin Jahan filed a police complaint accusing him of domestic violence and adultery.
Shami has been embroiled in a massive controversy after his wife Jahan in series of Facebook posts alleged the fast bowler of various transgressions in personal life
The BCCI has already withheld Shami's central contract as the police may start its inquiry on allegations of domestic violence. Daredevils are now waiting for BCCI's legal opinion about whether they should allow the Bengal speedster to join their camp, which will start at the end of the month.
"Look Daredevils management can't take any unilateral decision in this matter. All players who play in the IPL have a tripartite contract involving the franchise, BCCI and the player. Yes, we are well aware about the sensitive situation and we are having discussions with top BCCI officials. There is a clause about any player bringing disrepute but it is for the lawyers to interpret it," a senior franchise official said on Friday.
The Indian Premier League involves big business houses and they are extremely aware about their image. The GMR group had just entered into a 50:50 partnership with JSW group -- owners of India's top football club Bengaluru FC.
Company's image is paramount for any franchise and Delhi Daredevils is no exception in this regard. "In these sensitive times, when people are raising their voice against domestic abuse and violence, unless Shami comes out clean, the franchise's image will also take a beating. If Delhi Daredevils are worried, they certainly have reasons to do so. They have created a brand and would be protective about that," a senior BCCI official said.
There were however mixed reactions in BCCI as some officials felt that COA chief Vinod Rai could have waited for the police inquiry to get over and charges levelled against Shami being proved before his central contract is being withheld.
There is a possibility that acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary, treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhry along with CEO Rahul Johri discuss the Shami issue on the sidelines of the captain's conclave in Mumbai on March 12.
Personal glimpses
c. 2016: Suicidal thoughts
May 3, 2020: The Times of India
THOUGHT OF COMMITTING SUICIDE THRICE, REVEALS SHAMI
New Delhi:
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami revealed he had contemplated suicide thrice in the time that he was recovering from an injury he had sustained during the 2015 World Cup.
“In 2015 I was injured at the World Cup. After that it took some 18 months to get back (into the Indian team) and this was the most painful phase of my career. You know how difficult rehab gets and after that came the family problems. That was going on and in between all that I had an accident which was around 10-12 days before the IPL. Media hype over personal issues didn’t help,” he said in an Instagram live chat. IANS
Statistics
From: Gaurav Gupta, January 30, 2019: The Times of India
See graphic:
Mohammed Shami in tests and ODIs, from the beginning of his career to Jan 2019
