Shahbaz Ahmed: Maths-loving working class cricketer makes Elite League

Bengal's U-23 team had conceded first innings lead to Railways, and also lost to Baroda after taking a first innings lead in first two games of the CK Nayudu Trophy. Before the next game, young coach Sourasish Lahiri ran into erstwhile Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly at the CAB headquarters. "Patsy (Lahiri's nickname in Bengal circle), weren't you talking about a Haryana lad from Tapan Memorial Club?" Ganguly apparently enquired from the coach and he was told that his name is Shahbaz Ahmed.

"Yes, I was checking his numbers and this guy has to be special. He scores all runs and takes all wickets for his club. Amazing isn't it? Has to be a special player.

Why don't you take him for the next match?," Lahiri was laughing as he could vividly recollect that conversation with the former India captain on Shahbaz. As the Bengal all-rounder, a resident of Haryana's Mewat made it to the Indian ODI team as Washington Sundar's replacement, Lahiri couldn't be more happier. "Yesterday, we had dinner at CAB on the occasion of Independence day and Dada was laughing and telling me that, 'Remember? I told you so'.

You can never question Dadi's eye for talent. He saw those numbers and became curious," said the current senior Bengal assistant coach, remembering Shahbaz smashing nearly 1000 runs each season and taking 50 wickets. "He basically dominated the club scene as an above average player and to do that playing for Tapan Memorial, a club that can hardly compete with the likes of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or Kalighat was phenomenal,' said the former Bengal off-spinner, who in his playing days, had the distinction of getting Sachin Tendulkar out twice in a first-class game.