A picture showing Mohammed Shami drinking water during the semifinal of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy has sparked controversy after some criticised the India pacer for not observing roza (fast) in the month of Ramzan. (Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
'Shami Saheb Dont Give A Damn...': Javed Akhtar Tells Pacer To Ignore 'Bigoted Idiots' Amid Roza Row
Shami was the best bowler on show in the semifinal against Australia as he picked up three crucial wickets to restrict the Aussies to a below par total in Dubai
In fact, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi had called Shami a criminal after his image of drinking water went viral.
“By not keeping ‘Roza’ he (Mohammed Shami) has committed a crime. He should not do this. In the eyes of Shariat, he is a criminal. He will have to answer God,” the maulana had told ANI.
The comment triggered a wave of support on social media for India pacer. Veteran script writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar too has joined the chorus of voices that came out in support of Shami. Akhtar minced no words in his reaction and told Shami to ignore the "reactionary bigoted idiots".
"Shami saheb, don’t give a damn to those reactionary bigoted idiots who have any problem with your drinking water in a burning afternoon at a cricket field in Dubai," Akhtar wrote in an X post on Friday. "It is none of their business. You are one of the great Indian team that is making us all proud My best wishes to you and our whole team (sic)"
Shami was the best bowler on show in the semifinal against Australia as he picked up three crucial wickets to restrict the Aussies to a below par total in Dubai. Shami dismissed Cooper Conolly, Steven Smith and Nathan Ellis in his 10-over spell where he conceded just 48 runs. Australia were bowled out for 264 and India chased the target in the penultimate over to qualify for the final.
India now face New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy on Sunday, March 9.
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