Mohammed Shami reveals selection struggles he faced during trials for the UP Ranji trophy team: ‘If you can move my chair, then the boy will be selected’ | Cricket News
Mohammed Shami will go down as arguably one of the greatest fast bowlers India have produced. In the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023, he was the top wicket-taker in the tournament. He also became the leading wicket-taker for India in the hory of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups. However, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the pacer as he revealed about the selection tussles he had to face as a youngster during his Ranji Trophy days.
“I had gone to give trials for the UP Ranji Trophy team for 2 years, but whenever the final round came, they used to kick me out.” Shami said in an interview with PUMA. “When I was not selected after the trials in the first year, I thought it didn’t matter. Will come again next time, but next year the same thing happened again,” the 33-year-old added.
Shami then recalled the stunning reply the selector would give his brother when he went to ask about the reason behind the non-selection of Shami.
“The selector told my brother that ‘if you can move my chair, then the boy will be selected’. It’s very good. Otherwise, sorry,” the pacer said. However, his brother tore the selection form and decided to move away from UP to play for another team.
Shami then moved to Calcutta at the age of 14-15. “I was anyway ziddi. But I became even more steadfast that I had to play. I was getting a lot of experience training. After three-four years, I went to Arun Lal Academy. It was a cement pitch. The place for run-up was short. I was surprised. But still, I bowled.”
Eventually, Shami got the nod to play for a club, but they were not going to pay him. His food and stay will be taken care of, Shami decided to give it a go. “I took 45 wickets from 9 matches. And after that one day I was given Rs 25,000 a club official.” Shami further said. That was his first salary. He went home to give it to his mother, who gave it to his father and it eventually ended back with Shami. From there on, there was no turning back.
