Thirty-seven-old Andhra cricketer Syed Shahabuddin has decided to call it a day from First Class cricket of all forms. He will be felicitated by the game’s administrators at the Anantapur Sport Village at Anantapur on April 29 amidst players, coaches, officials, and ground staff.
‘Jabaaz’ attitude
The gutsy Kadiri-born cricketer will always be remembered by the cricketing fraternity for his ‘Jabaaz’ attitude and risk-taking ability for he clinched several victories from the jaws of defeat to his teams.
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“His six-plus towering personality ignites fear in the rival camp. He creates a buzz when he enters the field either to bowl or to bat. He is an impact player and any opposition will not take him lightly for he is a game changer,” feels former India stumper and Shahabuddin’s mate M.S.K. Prasad.
According to sources, whenever teams were picked for the South Zone, the team’s skipper ensured that Shahabuddin was there in the squad.
“Such respect he (Shahabuddin) commanded from his senior and illustrious colleagues. He is a fighter,” says former Andhra Ranji skipper V. Vijayasaradhy.
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He played Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy for the South Zone under the captaincy of Mohammed Azharuddin, V.V.S. Laxman, and M.S.K.
All-rounder
The lanky all-rounder always considers his stay at Chennai to play first division for 21 years shaped him as a quality player helping him play for premier teams later in his life.
“The 12-year stint playing for Lancashire league in UK Minor Country also gave me an opportunity to adjust to different weather conditions,” says Shahabuddin, who is popularly known as ‘sher’ (lion) to his friends and colleagues.
160 matches
Shahabuddin played 160 matches in all formats and scored 3,775 runs and picked up 341 wickets — twice achieving the 10-wicket hauls. He also slammed two centuries and crossed fifty 12 times.
He represented Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League-2010 and played under Sachin Tendulkar’s captaincy and represented the Hyderabad Heroes in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) for three years under Pakistan’s legendary cricketer Inzamam-ul Haq.
He also played T20 Challenger Series held in Dubai (Kuwait) along with players like Herschelle Gibbs, Yusuf Pathan, Scot Stryis, and Abdul Razaaq.
Rural Development Trust Programme Director Moncho Ferrer and BCCI senior selection committee member M.S.K. Prasad will be present at the felicitation function.