Lots of players – many of them with outstanding numbers in first-class and List A cricket – have never got a chance to play international cricket for one reason or another.

Shahbaz Nadeem may well end up on that list but, at 29, he’s doing his best to make sure he doesn’t.

The latest in a long line of excellent performances came in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018-19, India’s foremost domestic List A tournament, on Thursday when he returned 8/10 for Jharkhand against Rajasthan.

It’s a world record, the best List A bowling figures ever, topping compatriot Rahul Sanghvi’s 8/15 from around two decades ago.

For Nadeem, it’s just the latest in a long line of big performances, the best of which has been topping 50 wickets in successive seasons of the Ranji Trophy first-class competition: 51 wickets at 19.62 in 2015-16 and 56 at 25.60 in 2016-17.

“I have to play for India anyhow. From the time I started to play, my family and I have had just one dream, to play for the country,” Nadeem told The Times of India after his landmark performance.

“Whenever I have done well in domestic matches or the IPL [Indian Premier League], my parents, my wife have told me this is nothing, my ultimate target should be to play for India. Even today, my father called me up and appreciated me but reminded that playing for India should be the ultimate dream.”

Nadeem’s milestone came even as left-arm spinner Axar Patel had to leave the Indian squad currently playing the Asia Cup because of an injury, and Ravindra Jadeja, India’s No.1 pick on that front, replaced him.

“Earlier, these things bothered me. I've stopped thinking about it. I don't think about who gets selected or dropped. My job is to perform and I believe one day my performance will speak for me and will take me ahead. Rest the almighty knows,” said Nadeem, who now has 124 List A wickets to go with the 375 in first-class cricket.

Nadeem, however, doesn’t believe that his time has come and gone. He has been a regular presence in the India A side, after all, and feels that’s proof of the selectors’ interest in him.

“Had the selectors thought negatively, I would have never been a part of the India A squads. I had gone to Dubai to bowl in the senior team's nets [before the Asia Cup], so I know the selectors are watching me,” said Nadeem.

“They always talk to me about my performance, how my bowling is shaping up, and also appreciate whenever I do well. I know they are keeping an eye on me and when one knows that it keeps the morale high. It is a positive influence.”