The left-arm spinner Shahab Alam is another graduate from Nepal’s U19 national cricket team. Alam became latest name to carry forward the legacy of left-arm spinners in Nepal cricket. He made his debut for Nepal in home tri-nation T20I series against the Netherlands on April 17, 2021. He picked up a wicket each against the Netherlands and Malaysia to mark his arrival at international arena.

Alam had an excellent domestic season prior to his maiden national call-up. He picked up 25 wickets in his last 9 matches for Tribhuvan Army Club including a career best 7-wicket-haul to ensure his call-up by current head coach Dav Whatmore.

The 19-year-old was born in Rupandehi and learned all his cricket and the art of bowling left-arm spin at the place where most of the cricket is played out of all the districts in Nepal. He too is inspired from the greats of Nepali cricket like Shakti Gauchan and Basant Regmi who also hails from same district. He too has a story similar to his idol Basant Regmi. Alam started as a fast bowler but upon suggestion from his then coach Jung Bahadur Thapa, he changed his bowling style to spin.

Alam is among the few who has made into every playing XI of Chitwan Tigers in its first two season. He played five matches in first season and returned with three wickets with an economy rate of just under seven. Similarly, in last season, he picked up two wickets in six matches. His numbers are not inspiring but he has that knack of getting the opposition’s big fish. Alam’s consistency in domestic cricket, discipline, hard-work helped him earn a contract with departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club.

Previously, he was included for the first time in the national cricket team during the 35-member preliminary squad which was announced for the South Asian Games (SAG) in August 2019.

CHAMPION STORY

In 2013, I started plying cricket, I never thought about taking the sport seriously. In fact, I used to bowl fast at start, never mind the pace. My elder brother Parvez Alam was really fond of cricket though. He played in U-16 nationals which in a way inspired me to play at high level. I talked with my dad Lal Mohammad Ansari, my brother, and they all were positive for my intuitions and allowed me to try my hand in cricket.

My first coach, Jung Bahadur Thapa, was the one who made me bowl spin. He taught me the grip on how to hold the ball. It has been quite a journey from not knowing where the ball will land or which way it will turn at first to making the national team.

I am grateful of my seniors. Shakti dai (Gauchan) helped me in my early days for the transition into main stream from district and local games. Binod dai (Bhandari) then gave me an opportunity to represent Tribhuvan Army Club.

I really like watching Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) bowl. The curl and loop he can produce is very tempting. He is good in limited overs cricket. And there aren’t many good left-arm spinners in world cricket right now. Even if I could be as good as Basant dai down the line for Nepal, I think I would have done fairly well for myself and the national team. He still is one of the toughest bowler to play against.

I really feel good when my father come to watch every game I play in Rupandehi. I feel proud when he shares stuffs from local coaches or senior players who tells him about me.