NEW DELHI: At over 90kg, Mohammad Shahzad is your entire antithesis of health freak Virat Kohli but the Afghan wicketkeeper-batsman says who needs a punishing routine just like the Indian captain when he can hit longer sixes than the arena's No.1 ODI batsman.
Standing at 5'eight", there may be seldom a dull second when the stockily-built Shahzad is round, each off and on the sphere.
"Dekhiye hum health bhi poori karte hain aur khaate bhi poora hain (I paintings so much on my health however I don't compromise on food). You want me to have a health regimen like Kohli, it isn't possible, however I am working on it (dropping pounds)," Shahzad said.
The burly 30-year-old cricketer, who has had an eventful global occupation relationship back to 2009, simply plays by his own regulations.
He is aware of he is overweight however doesn't doubt his skill one bit, so much so that he believes that he can hit bigger sixes than Kohli despite now not having the exemplary health and skill possessed by the Indian captain.
Having performed in a refugee camp in Pakistan, the Jalalabad-based participant speaks urdu fluently and in addition passes the hindi check. Remind him of his weight again, Shahzad says now not everyone can also be like Kohli.
"Jitna lamba chakka woh (Kohli) maarte hain, main u.s. zyadaa maar saktaa hoon, zaroorat kya hain unki tarah itna nutrition karne ki (I can hit bigger sixes than Kohli so why do I want to practice his nutrition?)," says the stumper, whose failed attempts at weight-loss had led to a one-year doping ban last yr.
He spends a large number of time in India and claims to know best Indian cricketers neatly. He calls MS Dhoni his "closest pal" in the Indian workforce and in addition enjoys a good rapport with Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan (he continuously calls India opener 'Shekhar').
The cricketer has incessantly confronted grievance for being 'overweight' however he has hit back at his critics with match-winning performances. He has defied the chances to turn out to be Afghanistan's leading run-getter in T20s and is 2nd most effective to Mohammad Nabi in ODI runs.
"...my trainer (now Phil Simmons) is aware of that I can keep for 50 overs and bat for 50 overs. I've never seen it (weight) as a topic," says Shahzad, who is getting ready in India with the workforce for its maiden Test in Bengaluru in June.
He has received his workforce many video games however has also been in the information for incorrect seasons. He lately got back into the workforce after a serving a one-year doping ban.
Then he copped a two-game suspension as recent as March during the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe for causing harm to the ground after being disappointed at his dismissal.
He returned to ship a 'guy of the match' performance in the final of the World Cup qualifier in opposition to the West Indies.
And then two weeks later, his nation's cricket board, ACB, pulled him up for enjoying a local tournament in Peshawar without its permission and summoned him back to base.
So, why is he the way in which he is?
"Dekhiye galti toh insaan se hello hoti hain (To err is human). I've had two cups of coffee with you and who is aware of I might check sure after this," says the attacking opener who also regrets now not being decided on for Afghanistan's maiden World Cup appearance in 2015.
He is appreciated each for his antics and his ballistic strokeplay. He has received lovers in India for his Dhoni-like execution of the 'helicopter shot'.
"I try to hit it like Dhoni," he says sooner than opening up on his rapport with the Indian cricketers.
"It is always nice to catch up with the Indian cricketers. They are particularly warm. I've always seemed as much as Dhoni and now I've the excitement of knowing him. I've performed in opposition to India three-four occasions and after the match gets over, I've dropped in at Dhoni's room and chatted for hours.
"He most often asks me 'what is happening in Afghanistan' and at my home. We don't generally tend to talk so much about wicket-keeping and batting, it is only common stuff about life. His room is always open for a chat however sure, it is tough to reach him on his cell quantity.
"Even Suresh and Shikhar bhai are particularly warm people," says Shahzad, who like most of his teammates, is a Bollywood fan, his favourite actors being Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan.
Come June 14, Shahzad will turn out to be a part of history when his workforce takes the sphere in opposition to India in a Test match for the first actual time.
"It will probably be some instance. Earlier, the objective was once to qualify for the World Cup. We have executed that and now it is all about the Test in opposition to India."
Ask him about Kohli's possible absence from the ancient match as he might be taking part in county cricket in England, Shahzad says taking part in in opposition to the Indian skipper would be more fun.
"It will probably be more fun and difficult if he plays. If he is not there, it is going to be a problem for India's batting, we have no problems. But we would wish to watch him play."
He could also be proud of the truth that all of his teammates have overcome struggles to turn out to be world-class players, ensuring a brighter long run for the aspiring adolescence in the war-torn nation.
Shahzad ends the lengthy conversation with a gem after being requested about his circle of relatives.
"Bahut badi circle of relatives hain ji, ginte ginte raat ho jayegi (it is going to take a complete evening to recall the names of all my members of the family). I've two kids, six siblings and my mother. It is always nice to return to them whenever I get a small spoil from cricket," he signs off.
Standing at 5'eight", there may be seldom a dull second when the stockily-built Shahzad is round, each off and on the sphere.
"Dekhiye hum health bhi poori karte hain aur khaate bhi poora hain (I paintings so much on my health however I don't compromise on food). You want me to have a health regimen like Kohli, it isn't possible, however I am working on it (dropping pounds)," Shahzad said.
The burly 30-year-old cricketer, who has had an eventful global occupation relationship back to 2009, simply plays by his own regulations.
He is aware of he is overweight however doesn't doubt his skill one bit, so much so that he believes that he can hit bigger sixes than Kohli despite now not having the exemplary health and skill possessed by the Indian captain.
Having performed in a refugee camp in Pakistan, the Jalalabad-based participant speaks urdu fluently and in addition passes the hindi check. Remind him of his weight again, Shahzad says now not everyone can also be like Kohli.
"Jitna lamba chakka woh (Kohli) maarte hain, main u.s. zyadaa maar saktaa hoon, zaroorat kya hain unki tarah itna nutrition karne ki (I can hit bigger sixes than Kohli so why do I want to practice his nutrition?)," says the stumper, whose failed attempts at weight-loss had led to a one-year doping ban last yr.
He spends a large number of time in India and claims to know best Indian cricketers neatly. He calls MS Dhoni his "closest pal" in the Indian workforce and in addition enjoys a good rapport with Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan (he continuously calls India opener 'Shekhar').
The cricketer has incessantly confronted grievance for being 'overweight' however he has hit back at his critics with match-winning performances. He has defied the chances to turn out to be Afghanistan's leading run-getter in T20s and is 2nd most effective to Mohammad Nabi in ODI runs.
"...my trainer (now Phil Simmons) is aware of that I can keep for 50 overs and bat for 50 overs. I've never seen it (weight) as a topic," says Shahzad, who is getting ready in India with the workforce for its maiden Test in Bengaluru in June.
He has received his workforce many video games however has also been in the information for incorrect seasons. He lately got back into the workforce after a serving a one-year doping ban.
Then he copped a two-game suspension as recent as March during the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe for causing harm to the ground after being disappointed at his dismissal.
He returned to ship a 'guy of the match' performance in the final of the World Cup qualifier in opposition to the West Indies.
And then two weeks later, his nation's cricket board, ACB, pulled him up for enjoying a local tournament in Peshawar without its permission and summoned him back to base.
So, why is he the way in which he is?
"Dekhiye galti toh insaan se hello hoti hain (To err is human). I've had two cups of coffee with you and who is aware of I might check sure after this," says the attacking opener who also regrets now not being decided on for Afghanistan's maiden World Cup appearance in 2015.
He is appreciated each for his antics and his ballistic strokeplay. He has received lovers in India for his Dhoni-like execution of the 'helicopter shot'.
"I try to hit it like Dhoni," he says sooner than opening up on his rapport with the Indian cricketers.
"It is always nice to catch up with the Indian cricketers. They are particularly warm. I've always seemed as much as Dhoni and now I've the excitement of knowing him. I've performed in opposition to India three-four occasions and after the match gets over, I've dropped in at Dhoni's room and chatted for hours.
"He most often asks me 'what is happening in Afghanistan' and at my home. We don't generally tend to talk so much about wicket-keeping and batting, it is only common stuff about life. His room is always open for a chat however sure, it is tough to reach him on his cell quantity.
"Even Suresh and Shikhar bhai are particularly warm people," says Shahzad, who like most of his teammates, is a Bollywood fan, his favourite actors being Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan.
Come June 14, Shahzad will turn out to be a part of history when his workforce takes the sphere in opposition to India in a Test match for the first actual time.
"It will probably be some instance. Earlier, the objective was once to qualify for the World Cup. We have executed that and now it is all about the Test in opposition to India."
Ask him about Kohli's possible absence from the ancient match as he might be taking part in county cricket in England, Shahzad says taking part in in opposition to the Indian skipper would be more fun.
"It will probably be more fun and difficult if he plays. If he is not there, it is going to be a problem for India's batting, we have no problems. But we would wish to watch him play."
He could also be proud of the truth that all of his teammates have overcome struggles to turn out to be world-class players, ensuring a brighter long run for the aspiring adolescence in the war-torn nation.
Shahzad ends the lengthy conversation with a gem after being requested about his circle of relatives.
"Bahut badi circle of relatives hain ji, ginte ginte raat ho jayegi (it is going to take a complete evening to recall the names of all my members of the family). I've two kids, six siblings and my mother. It is always nice to return to them whenever I get a small spoil from cricket," he signs off.
Why diet like Kohli when you can hit longer sixes than him: Shahzad
![Why diet like Kohli when you can hit longer sixes than him: Shahzad]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 03, 2018
Rating:
