A Devoted Shami Didn’t Lose Focus Despite 1-Yr-Old Daughter in ICU

Aaira Shami, Mohammed Shami’s daughter was admitted in the ICU as she was suffering from high fever.

Mohammed Shami, India’s bowling mainstay, made a commendable display of commitment towards his game early this week. The cricketer was at his bowling best in the second Test match against New Zealand in Kolkata despite his 14-month-old daughter being admitted in an ICU.

It was the second day of the Kolkata Test match, when the pace bowler’s daughter, Aaira, began to suffer from high fever. At the end of the day’s play, Shami who took two wickets in the day, was informed about his daughter’s condition.

With his daughter was being treated in ICU, it would not have been easy for the bowler to play and concentrate on the pitch, however he stayed calm and showed courage to dominate the visitors on each occasion he stepped foot on the ground.

Every day after the day’s play, Shami would visit his daughter in the hospital and would return to the hotel by late night.

In the second innings, Shami with his lethal reverse swingers did the job for India as his three-wicket haul in the innings denied New Zealand a chance to square the series.

Shami also got praises from TV commentators like Sanjay Manjrekar who said, "We are delighted to have watched Shami for his excellent bowling in spite of the fact that he was going through hard times due to his daughter's illness."

Aaira recovered and returned home on Monday, 3 October, the day the match ended.