Another prolific player calls time on his illustrious career. We are talking about India & Jharkhand left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem who has hung his boots. Nadeem has retired from all forms of cricket to participate in T20 leagues across the world including the Legends competitions.
Shahbaz Nadeem conveyed to a leading media portal that after careful consideration over an extended period, he has decided to retire from all three formats of the game. He expressed that while there had always been a drive to perform well and contribute to the Indian team, he now acknowledges the possibility of limited opportunities at the international level. Hence, he believes it’s more appropriate to provide opportunities for younger cricketers. Additionally, Nadeem mentioned his intentions to participate in T20 leagues globally as part of his plans.
Nadeem shared that he’s always been one to set emotions aside when making big decisions. Reflecting on his 20-year journey with the Jharkhand team, he took pride in their consistent performance, even if they hadn’t clinched the Ranji Trophy title. He pointed out how their strong team presence has earned them respect, with regular appearances in the tournament knockouts. Feeling it’s time to pass the torch to the younger players, Nadeem expressed confidence in their ability to bring home trophies in the future.
A Glimpse of Shahbaz Nadeem’s Career Achievements
Shahbaz Nadeem has scalped 542 wickets in first-class cricket which includes eight wickets in two Test matches for India. He also made his Test debut in Ranchi against South Africa in 2019 after that he had to wait for almost two years to get another chance. He further featured in IPL for Delhi Daredevils from 2011 to 2018 and Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2019-2021 scalping 48 wickets in the league. Ahead of IPL 2022, he was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants but did not play a game.
Coming to his first-class career, Nadeem began playing for Jharkhand at 15 but only received his India call-up at the age of 30. He ended the Ranji Trophy 2015-16 as the leading wicket-taker scalping 51 wickets followed by 55 wickets in the 2016-2017 season. Nadeem ended the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018-19 with 24 wickets, the most, and that included a List-A record spell of 8 for 10 against Rajasthan.
Nadeem was the Player of the Match in Jharkhand’s win in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2010-11 final and that remains one of his most memorable games.
Reflecting on his cricket journey, he highlighted that besides the victorious moment in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, one particular match against Rajasthan stood out as truly memorable. However, he emphasized that nothing could surpass the honor of representing India. Looking back on his career, he admitted to feeling that he could have accomplished more, yet he found contentment in his achievements.
Nadeem further thanked his childhood coach Imtiaz Hussain for his guidance & support. Nadeem has credited his bowling prowess to his mentor, Hussain who has been instrumental in shaping his skills, seeking guidance from him to this day. Additionally, he expressed gratitude towards S Rahman from the Indigo Club, whose support has been invaluable throughout his cricketing journey. He also marked that because of the unwavering support of these individuals and his family, he has persevered on the cricket field for numerous years.
For the unversed, Nadeem is the third Jharkhand player after Saurabh Tiwary & Varun Aaron to announce his retirement in Ranji Trophy 2023 which he ended as the highest wicket-taker for Jharkhand scalping 23 wickets.
Sportsermon wishes him best of luck in his future endeavors.
Also read, Jonny Bairstow Set for Emotional 100th Test for England
