File image of Indian cricket team star Mohammed Shami© AFP
Mohammed Shami is currently on a break from cricket. Recovery from an injury has kept the star Indian cricket team pacer out of action since the ODI World Cup 2023. At the marquee event, a few months ago, Mohammed Shami strode out with confidence and instilled fear in the mind of the rivals. Mohammed Shami, despite missing out on the first four matches of the tournament, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps. He bagged the Player of the Tournament award for his stellar performance. Despite all this, Team India failed to lift the World Cup trophy as they lost against Australia in the summit clash.
During the World Cup, Mohammed Shami was the target of a stunning claim by ex-Pakistan cricketer Hasan Raza. While commenting on the bowling quality of Shami and Mohammed Siraj during the Cricket World Cup 2023, Raza had said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was providing some special balls only to the Indian bowlers, due to which the pacers were getting extra swing on batting-friendly tracks.
“It seems like the ball gets changed in the second innings. I think the ICC, umpire, or the BCCI is giving a different ball to the Indian bowlers. The side batting first scored 350 and were all over the chasing team. The way Mohammed Shami bowled his first ball, even Angelo Matthews was stunned. During our playing days, there was only one ball which was utilised, and had both swing and reverse swing,” the 41-year-old had said after the India vs Sri Lanka game at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
In response to that Shami said the former Pakistan player was jealous of India’s performance.
“Actually they have made cricket a joke because we don’t enjoy each other’s success. You become too happy when you are being praised, but when you lose, you feel that you have been cheated. You look at the records of the time we have been part of the team, you won’t even find them close. Jalan toh puri dikhti hai wo. Itna jalane se kon se results mil jaane hain (Jealously is evident. You can never get good results with this amount of jealously,” Shami told News18.
He was also asked: “Sabse zyada to aapne Pakistan ko dhoya hai (You have thrashed Pakistan the most)?” the anchor asked Mohammed Shami.
“Wo toh khoon main hai (It’s in the blood),” replied the Indian cricket team star.
Topics mentioned in this article
