Nadeem: ‘Net session with Indian players in Dubai helped’

The Jharkhand spinner also has plans to continue with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association first division league for some more seasons. He currently plays for Nelson SC.

Shahbaz Nadeem didn’t know about the record for a long time after he achieved it.

Jharkhand’s left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem stormed into the record books when he returned with figures of 10-4-10-8 in a league match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Rajasthan in Chennai on Thursday. The feat was the best List-A bowling figures in the country.

Tired and elated after the record-breaking performance, Nadeem said a net stint with the Indian players in Dubai helped him hone his skills. “I was a net bowler helping the Indian batsmen in Dubai ahead of the Asia Cup. I had to stick to a tight line and length. Lengthy sessions helped me to master them and I guess that has helped me here,” he said.

The Jharkhand spinner also has plans to continue with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association first division league for some more seasons. He currently plays for Nelson SC.

READ: Shahbaz Nadeem records best List-A bowling figures

With familiarity factor coming in, the 29-year-old said the wicket at the Murugappa College Ground was also conducive to slow bowling. “The wicket had some grip on it. Having said that, there was also less room for error. I used some variety in my bowling and had many tricks up my sleeve,” he said.

In fact, Nadeem didn’t know about the record for a long time after he achieved it. “I was oblivious. I was happy that I had put my team in a position of strength in the match. I was happy that I was able to contribute my bit,” he added.

The spinner hasn’t lost hope of donning the national colours. “All I have to do is keep taking wickets. Everything else will fall into place eventually,” he added.

Nadeem, at one stage, was going great guns and was on course to pick up all 10 wickets. He took all eight wickets to fall at the end of the eighth over (8 overs, 3 maidens, 9 runs, 8 wickets) but fellow left-arm spinner, Anukul Roy, accounted for Rahul Chahar and Nadeem had to be content with eight wickets.

The previous best bowling effort in List-A was by Delhi’s Rahul Sanghvi who took 8-15 against Himachal Pradesh in the 1997-98 season. Sanghvi had played one Test for India, against Australia in 2001.

He was also a part of the India ‘A’ teams and played against England and Australia in the recently concluded ‘A’ series.