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Home > Sports News > Cricket News > Article > Spinner Shahbaz Nadeem determined to bounce back after Irani Cup snub

Spinner Shahbaz Nadeem determined to bounce back after Irani Cup snub

Updated on: 20 January,2017 09:41 AM IST  | 
Subodh Mayure | subodh.mayure@mid-day.com

Jharkhand's left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was the highest wicket-taker in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season with 51 scalps

Spinner Shahbaz Nadeem determined to bounce back after Irani Cup snub

Shahbaz Nadeem

Shahbaz Nadeem
Shahbaz Nadeem


Jharkhand's left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was the highest wicket-taker in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season with 51 scalps. However, that was not enough to seal a place in the Rest of India's playing XI for the Irani Cup against Ranji champions Mumbai at the Cricket Club of India ground last year.


This season he took 56 wickets and knocked down the door of the Rest of India squad. Nadeem said that he is determined to prove his mettle at the CCI's Brabourne Stadium today.


Nadeem has no regrets
Interestingly, the 27-year-old was not included in ROI's playing XI. However, Haryana off-spinner Jayant Yadav found a place. "Last year I missed an opportunity to play in the Irani Cup. I have nothing to say regarding that. But I feel this is a good opportunity to fight with myself back again. The situation and the ground is the same. I will prove a point that I can do better in this game," he said.

Asked about what gave him the motivation to perform after he was omitted from the ROI team last year, Nadeem said: "I motivate myself by saying that I have to play for my country anyhow. It is not only my dream, but my family's dream as well.

"More than myself, I want to play for my family and friends who are always concerned about me. They are the biggest motivation for me to come back stronger and perform." Nadeem played junior cricket for his state and then subsequently for India in the under-15, U-17 and U-19 teams in successive seasons. He felt he was fortunate then national chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar watched him take 10 wickets for his state's u-15 team in Kolkata.

Luck favours Nadeem
"When I played for my state in the U-15 at Kolkata, the national chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar sir came to watch one of the matches where I took 10 wickets (five in each innings), so I got selected.

"Normally, chief selectors do not come to watch an U-15 match, but I was fortunate. God was with me," said Nadeem.

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