"He was standing on the balcony, it was the 19th floor" - Mohammed Shami's friend recalls shocking tale of cricketer contemplating suicide
Senior Team India pacer Mohammed Shami's friend Umesh Kumar has recalled a shocking incident of the cricketer contemplating suicide during the phase where his career and personal life were in complete turmoil. According to Kumar, while the fast bowler's estranged wife Hasin Jahan leveled some shocking accusations against Shami, allegations of match-fixing shattered the pacer.
Shami, who is recuperating after undergoing surgery to repair Achilles tendon in February, was in the news for all the wrong reasons in 2018. Jahan accused the right-arm pacer of domestic abuse and adultery and even filed a police complaint against him in Jadavpur.
Further, the Anti-Corruption Unit of BCCI investigated allegations of match-fixing against Shami. Even his central contract was put on hold until he was given a clean chit by the ACU.
During his appearance on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube show, Shami's friend opened up in detail about the ordeal the fast bowler went through during his low phase. He also described in detail the shocking incident when the star cricketer contemplated ending his life.
"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.
Elaborating further on the incident of the Indian fast bowler wanting to end his life amid all the controversies, Kumar added:
"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."
Concluding the story, Kumar said that one day Shami got a message on his mobile that said that he got a clean chit following the match-fixing enquiry. According to him, Shami 'would probably be happier that day than he would have been if he had won a World Cup'.
Mohammed Shami had an exceptional ODI World Cup
Shami has been out of action since the 2023 ODI World Cup at home, where the Men in Blue finished runners-up, going down to Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The 33-year-old was the leading wicket taker in the tournament, claiming 24 wickets in seven matches at an average of 10.71. He was the Player of the Match in the first semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai, registering sensational figures of 7-57 in 9.5 overs.