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Indian cricket sensation Mohammed Shami was on the precipice of tragedy, according to a harrowing account shared by his close friend, Umesh Kumar. In a candid interview with Hindustan Times, Kumar revealed the extent of Shami’s mental anguish during a tumultuous period marked by match-fixing allegations.
“Shami was fighting with everything during that phase. He lived with me in my house. But when the fixing allegations with Pakistanbroke and led to a probe that night, he was shattered,” Kumar revealed.
Living together during the ordeal, Kumar witnessed firsthand the toll the accusations took on Shami. The cricketer once celebrated for his fiery pace, found himself grappling with a storm of allegations that questioned his integrity.
Mohammed Shami’s longest night
“He said he could tolerate anything but not allegations of betraying his country,” Kumar quoted Shami as saying. The weight of these accusations was immense, and it pushed Shami to the edge. The situation reached a crisis point one night.
Kumar recounted, “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.” The fear of what Shami might do was palpable.
A chilling detail emerged as Kumar described finding Shami on the balcony of their 19th-floor apartment.
“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,” he said. The image of Shami, alone and vulnerable, at such a height is a stark reminder of the depths of despair the cricketer experienced.
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Wake-up call from Shami’s incident
Shami’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the immense pressure faced by athletes at the highest level. While the world often celebrates their triumphs, the mental health struggles they endure are often overlooked.
Kumar’s revelation underscores the urgent need for greater support and awareness around mental health in sports. It’s a call to action to create a more empathetic environment where athletes feel empowered to seek help without fear of judgment.
As Shami continues to rebuild his life and career, his story stands as a testament to the human spirit’s resilience. The star pacer is preparing for his comeback these days after being long rested for his heel surgery and will be seen soon on the field representing India.
