WRONG CALL: Don’t target Mohd Shami for not fasting, playing for India is more important

Any kind of adverse publicity for an Indian cricketer before the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday is unwanted. On Thursday, star Indian fast bowler Mohd Shami was slammed by a cleric for not ‘fasting’ during the holy month of Ramzan. It is well-known, Shami has played a stellar role for India in the Champions Trophy in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He bowled incisively against Australia in the semi-finals and took three wickets as well.

So, at a time when the Indian team is preparing for the final against New Zealand, to be held on Sunday, all energy has to be positive. Why this Muslim cleric has chosen to attack Shami is baffling. It is well-known, playing in Dubai is not easy. The weather may be cooler than peak summer but for a fast bowler, dehydration and cramps are a danger. Shami is returning to international cricket from a long injury lay-off (Achilles Heel) and needs to protect himself in all possible ways. After all, he has to be fit for bowling 10 overs if necessary.

Given the sticky wicket conditions in Dubai, India have relied on spin, but the role played by Shami and Hardik Pandya as medium pacers has been important. They say, sports and politics must not be mixed. Likewise, religion must not be brought into any competitive sport. In a team sport like cricket, Shami has a very important role to play. As coach Gautam Gambhir pointed out the other day, the way Shami has handled the pressure and delivered for India has been defining. To step up and play for India is more important than fasting. India is a nation where everyone is allowed to practise his or her own religion. No cleric or religious head can force anyone to do or prohibit things, be it in Hinduism, Islam or even Christianity.

Knowing Mohd Shami, he will do his best for India and put his best forward in the final. If he cannot fast till Monday, so be it. He can always observe fasting after the final. That, again, is something personal. This is not the first time a star cricketer has been haunted. Three days ago, a Congress spokesperson created a flutter when she called Indian skipper Rohit Sharma as fat and overweight. That, too, when Rohit’s BMI is in normal limits as an athlete.

Rewind to the times when Sania Mirza played top quality singles for India and exploded on the big stage two decades ago, even she was not spared by clerics. They blamed her for wearing short skirts and said it was against Islam. Sania had been slapped with many fatwas, but she played professional tennis and for India with great passion. She did not let anything disturb her.

Sania was also once hauled over coals when a photograph was put out of her foot near the Indian national flag on a table. That was a photo captured from a wrong angle, showing Sania in poor light. For someone who had draped herself in the tricolour with pride, the flag incident was awful. Saniua took that in her stride as well.

There has to be a line drawn for sensationalism. What is important for India at this time in cricket is Mohd Shami performs well, along with other teammates. It would be in best interest for stupid people to shut up and not preach at this point of time. How much Shami has slogged to come back is something not everyone will understand. Certainly not a cleric.