Mohammed Shami has reached the pinnacle of Indian cricket, being a key player in a formidable Indian team that triumphed in the Test series in Australia and competed fiercely against England and South Africa on their home grounds. He has been the leading wicket-taker for India in the last three editions of the ODI World Cup, achieved the milestone of becoming the fastest Indian to claim 100 ODI wickets, and holds the record for the most consecutive four-wicket hauls – three – in ODIs.
Shami’s Struggles: Triumphs Marred by Trials
Despite his achievements, Mohammed Shami has faced significant lows, both professionally and personally. His career has been marred by persistent injuries, personal turmoil with his ex-wife, separation from his daughter, and the most troubling incident when he was accused of match-fixing by his estranged wife Hasin Jahan, among other allegations. Hasin Jahan also filed a police complaint against Shami for domestic violence, which led to the BCCI suspending his central contract temporarily. This period was undoubtedly the darkest in Shami’s career, pushing him to contemplate ending his life. Shami has previously mentioned his thoughts of suicide during this challenging time, but never with the depth that his friend Umesh Kumar shared.
“Shami was battling everything during that time. He stayed with me at my house. When the match-fixing allegations with Pakistan surfaced and led to an investigation that night, he was devastated. He said he could tolerate anything except accusations of betraying his country,” Umesh recalled on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast ‘Unplugged’.
“It was also reported that he wanted to take drastic measures that night [end his life]. It was around 4 AM when I got up to drink water. On my way to the kitchen, I saw him standing on the balcony. We were on the 19th floor. I understood what was going on. That night was, I believe, the longest in Shami’s life. Later, one day, when we were talking, he received a message on his phone saying he had been cleared by the committee investigating the matter. He was probably happier that day than he would have been if he had won a World Cup,” he added.
Shami’s Resolve: The Strength to Fight On
Shami, who was part of the panel, explained what motivated him to continue fighting against the allegations and not give up on his life and career.
“It depends on what you prioritize and the credibility of the other person’s statements. When you know the other person’s actions are baseless and not important to you, you shouldn’t abandon your priorities. If I hadn’t been Mohammed Shami, the person I am today, no one would have cared about my situation, and neither would the media. So, why should I abandon what made me Shami? You have to keep fighting,” he stated.
Shami is recuperating from an injury sustained during last year’s ODI World Cup. He is expected to return in the home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand later this year.
His wife Hasin Jahan leaked some of his WhatsApp chats online
In actuality, Shami and the unidentified girl exchanged images during the talk. The sharing of images raises the possibility that this could be a real discourse. To be fair, it is impossible to determine whether the conversation is genuine. This may be a staged conversation to compound the old cricketer’s mounting problems.
