Bhiwandi's Shoaib Khan travels to Churchgate for Kanga League game, returns with 10 wickets and INR 10,000

Shoaib Khan, the left-arm spinner, playing for Gaud Saraswat CC bagged a 10-wicket haul against Jolly Cricketers in Dr HD Kanga Cricket League Division E match on September 23. He not only achieved the rare feat but he was also awarded 10,000 Rupees for his exceptional outing. He bowled 17.4 overs on the trot at the Government Law College ground.

As a result of his performance, Gaud Saraswat CC defeated Jolly Cricketers in a game that was made a one-sided affair by Shoaib. The cricketer travelled around 50 km from his hometown on a bike to play the Division E match. He revealed that he had no idea he would claim 10 wickets and was moved by club owner Ravi Mandrekar’s confidence in him.

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“When I left Bhiwandi this [Sunday] morning I was merely thinking of just giving off my best. Even at Lunch, after I got seven wickets, I was not thinking of the all-10. But our club owner Ravi Mandrekar sir pushed me and said, ‘You can get the remaining three wickets. Just focus and go for it’. I then started thinking about it, bowled in the right areas and succeeded in getting all 10. He also gave me INR 10,000 for my best effort. It’s a big amount for me and I will hand it to my parents,” Shoaib told Mid-Day.

Must thank other bowlers: Shoaib 

Gaud Saraswat dismissed Jolly for just 67 runs in the first innings and the former declared their innings at 69 for the loss of six wickets. Jolly scored just 36 runs in their second innings. Shoaib’s 10-wicket haul is not just the out-of-the-blue figures, he had claimed a 7-fer for Islam Gymkhana in a ‘C’ division game 10 years ago. 

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“That performance also helped us to win a game. Today’s [Sunday] performance gave me a different thrill as we know [India’s] star spinner Anil Kumble also had a 10-wicket haul in a 1999 Test against Pakistan in New Delhi. I must thank my other bowlers, who also bowled a tight length and built pressure on the batsmen, which helped me to get wickets from the other end,” he added.