India's senior pacer Mohammed Shami went through a horrid time when Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit investigated him over allegations of match-fixing from his estranged wife Hasin Jahan. Shami had previously revealed that he contemplated suicide as he struggled with his wife's accusations about match-fixing and domestic abuse. Years later, his friend Umesh Kumar recalled when Shami was on the balcony contemplating suicide very early in the morning.
"Shami was fighting with everything during that phase. He lived with me in my house. But when the fixing allegations with Pakistan broke and led to a probe that night, he was shattered.
"He said that I can tolerate everything but not allegations of betraying my country," Kumar said, as quoted as saying by Hindustan Times on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube show.
"It also came in the news that he wanted to do something drastic that night (end his life). It was around 4 AM in the morning when I got up to drink water.
"I was on my way to the kitchen when I saw that he was standing on the balcony. It was the 19th floor we were living in. I understood what happened. That night of Shami's career, I feel, was the longest."
Kumar further said that Shami was ecstatic when he got the message informing him about getting a clean chit from BCCI's ACU. He feels that Shami “would probably be happier that day than he would have been if he had won a World Cup".
Shami’s World Cup run and comeback timeline
Shami was the highest wicket-taker in ODI World Cup 2023 despite warning the bench for the first few games. He bagged three five-wicket hauls in the tournament.
After India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023, Shami has not played competitive cricket. He is currently recovering after undergoing surgery to repair Achilles tendon.
The 33-year-old has started bowling in the nets. However, it is not clear when he will regain match fitness. He is expected to make a comeback before the two-Test series at home against Bangladesh in September.
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