{
  "id": 3825526,
  "title": "From washing utensils in Kolkata to a career-best 167: Shahbaz Ahmed's remarkable cricket journey",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/from-washing-utensils-in-kolkata-to-a-career-best-167-shahbaz-ahmeds",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-27T21:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/washing-utensils-kolkata-career-best-215000841.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New Delhi: In a remarkable journey from washing utensils in Kolkata to scoring career-best 167, Shahbaz Ahmed's cricket story is one of unwavering determination and ambition. Born in Mewat, Haryana, Shahbaz initially planned to become a civil engineer, but his passion for cricket overtook his aspirations. Leaving his studies behind, he relocated 1,500 kilometers away from home to Kolkata, determined to make a name for himself in the fiercely competitive Kolkata club circuit.\n\nUpon arriving in Kolkata, Shahbaz faced extreme financial hardships, washing utensils and taking on odd jobs to make ends meet. Despite these challenges, his dedication to cricket never wavered. He even carried engineering textbooks alongside his cricket kit to support his family financially while dedicating his free time to honing his skills.\n\nShahbaz's big break came when he was selected for local club Tapan Memorial in Division 1 club cricket. He quickly proved his worth, scoring six hundreds in seven matches while also picking up wickets. His exceptional cricketing abilities, coupled with his deep understanding of angles, earned him a spot in Bengal's Ranji Trophy debut and an IPL contract.\n\nKnown for his left-handed middle-order batting and left-arm orthodox spin, Shahbaz soon became the go-to player for Bengal when the team needed a resilient performer. His impressive performances led to an international opportunity, making his ODI debut for Team India against South Africa in October 2022 and participating in the 2023 Asian Games.\n\nRecently, Shahbaz made a significant impact in domestic cricket, representing East Zone in the Duleep Trophy against North East Zone. He showcased his all-round skills, scoring a career-best 167 runs in first-class cricket, hitting 17 boundaries and four sixes in 80 overs. His left-arm spin also troubled opposition batsmen, claiming 3 for 20 in 10 overs, contributing to a massive victory.",
  "summary": "Shahbaz Ahmed left civil engineering studies in Haryana to chase cricket dreams in Kolkata, 1,500km from home. Facing financial hardship, he washed dishes and lived in modest club quarters while training. His breakthrough came with Tapan Memorial, followed by Bengal, IPL and India selection. After slipping from contention, Shahbaz returned strongly with 167 runs and 3/20 for East Zone.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "From washing utensils in Kolkata to a career-best 167: Shahbaz's cricket journey",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/from-washing-utensils-in-kolkata-to-a-career-best-167-shahbazs",
        "published": "2026-08-27T16:20:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}