167 & 3-20: Discarded India All-Rounder Shahbaz Ahmed Starts Domestic Season With Epic Rescue Act

Shahbaz Ahmed rescued his team with the bat, coming out to the middle when East Zone were struggling at 138-5 on the opening day, having just lost captain Ishan Kishan. The all-rounder stitched a 150-run partnership with Sudip Kumar Gharami (146) and added 103 for the sixth wicket with Anukul Roy (37). Shahbaz also shepherded the tail to help his team post a mammoth 467, staying in the middle for more than 80 overs. He was the last player to be dismissed but scored a career-best 167, featuring 17 fours and four sixes. This was his third first-class hundred. Shahbaz kept North East Zone batting in check, bowling them out for 111 in 42.5 overs. With his left-arm spin, he finished with figures of 3-20 in 10 overs, supporting Abhijit Sarkar’s five-wicket haul conceding only 20 runs. Shahbaz made his international debut in an ODI against South Africa in October 2022 and played three games in the format. He has also played two T20Is at the 2023 Asian Games but hasn’t featured for India since.