Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] Mohammed Shami is one of the most revered players in Indian cricket, known for both his exemplary skills and his jovial demeanor.
However, his close friend, Umesh Kumar, recently revealed a shocking low point in the pacer’s career.
Shami’s estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, filed for divorce in March 2018, alleging domestic violence and infidelity. Shami denied the allegations, calling
them an attempt to malign his image. Another major setback came when he was accused of match-fixing after India’s loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Shami also faced religious abuse on social media.
“Shami was fighting everything during that phase. He lived with me in my house. But when the fixing allegations broke, he was shattered. He said, ‘I can tolerate everything but not allegations of betraying my country,'” Umesh shared on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast ‘Unplugged.’
Kumar recalled an incident when he found Shami anxiously standing on the balcony at night. “It was around 4 AM when I saw him on the 19th floor balcony. I understood what happened. Later, he got a message confirming the match-fixing allegations were baseless. He was probably happier that day than winning a World Cup,” he added.
Shami is currently training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after ankle surgery.
The ODI World Cup 2023 final was his last appearance for India, where he was the highest wicket-taker. Shami aims to regain full fitness for the Duleep Trophy starting September 4, hoping for a comeback in the Test series against Bangladesh.