New Delhi, March 6:
A war of words has broken out over Indian cricket team’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami. Actually, Shami was seen drinking water while playing during the Champions Trophy match. Since then he has been the target of some clerics. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi objected to Shami drinking energy drinks. He said that not keeping fast during Ramadan is a sin. On this, AIIA President Maulana Sajid Rashidi retorted and said that keeping or not keeping fast is a personal matter. Now Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) MLA Rohit Pawar has also reacted to this.
Earlier, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, President of All India Muslim Jamaat, strongly criticized Shami. He said, ‘One of the mandatory duties is Roza (fasting). If a healthy man or woman does not keep Roza, then he is a big criminal. A famous cricketer of India, Mohammed Shami drank water or any other beverage during the match. People were watching him. If he is playing, it means that he is healthy. In such a condition, he did not keep Roza and also drank water. This sends a wrong message to the people. By not keeping Roza, he has committed a sin. He should not do this. He is a criminal in the eyes of Shariat. He will have to answer to God.’
Shami, who returned after recovering from injury, has handled the new ball with Harshit Rana or Hardik Pandya during the Champions Trophy in the absence of injured Jasprit Bumrah. Rana is new and Pandya is an all-rounder who usually does not bowl 10 overs in an ODI match. Shami has taken eight wickets in the tournament so far. Shami suffered an ankle injury during the World Cup 2023 and was on a long break. (Agencies)