The Afghani wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad feels that he doesn’t need the punishing regime like the Indian skipper Virat Kohli as without doing that he can hit longer sixes than the world’s No.1 ODI batsman.
According to the quotes in PTI, Shahzad said, “Dekhiye hum fitness bhi poori karte hain aur khaate bhi poora hain (I work a lot on my fitness but I don’t compromise on food). You want me to have a fitness routine like Kohli, it is not possible, but I am working on it (losing weight).”
The burly 30-year-old cricketer believes in playing by his own rules. Shahzad has immense belief in his ability as he reckons that he can hit bigger sixes than Kohli despite not having the extreme fitness and skill possessed by the Indian skipper.
Having played in a refugee camp in Pakistan, the Afagni batsman said, “Jitna lamba chakka woh (Kohli) maarte hain, main unse zyadaa maar saktaa hoon, zaroorat kya hain unki tarah itna diet karne ki (I can hit bigger sixes than Kohli so why do I need to follow his diet?).”
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli Criticizes Bowling Action of Sunil Narine
After failing to lose weight, Shahzad faced a one-year doping ban last year. He spends a lot of time in India and claims to know top Indian cricketers well. He has often faced criticism for being ‘overweight’ but he has hit back at his critics with match-winning performances. He said, “…my coach (now Phil Simmons) knows that I can keep for 50 overs and bat for 50 overs. I have never seen it (weight) as an issue.”
Despite winning a lot of games for his team, the stumper has been in news for all the wrong reasons. He recently copped a two-game suspension as recent as March during the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe for causing damage to the ground after being upset at his dismissal.
Justifying his past mistakes, Shahzad said, “Dekhiye galti toh insaan se hi hoti hain (To err is human). I have had two cups of coffee with you and who knows I might test positive after this.” He is liked both for his antics and his fierce strokeplay. He said, “I try to hit it like Dhoni.”
ALSO READ: Surrey Finally Announces Their Association With Virat Kohli
He further added, “I have always looked up to Dhoni and now I have the pleasure of knowing him. I have played against India three-four times and after the match gets over, I have dropped in at Dhoni’s room and chatted for hours. He usually asks me ‘what’s happening in Afghanistan’ and at my home. We don’t tend to talk a lot about wicket-keeping and batting, it is just regular stuff about life. His room is always open for a chat but yes, it is tough to reach him on his mobile number.”
Afghanistan team will be writing the history books as on June 14 as they will take the field against India in a Test match for the very first time.
“It will be some occasion. Earlier, the goal was to qualify for the World Cup. We have done that and now it is all about the Test against India.” Ask him about Kohli’s possible absence from the historic match as he said, “It will be more fun and challenging if he plays. If he is not there, it will be a problem for India’s batting, we have no issues. But we would want to watch him play.”
