India pacer Mohammed Shami has taken the cricket world by storm with his back-to-back stellar performances in the ODI World Cup 2023. The right-arm pacer claimed his second five-wicket haul in the tournament against Sri Lanka and played a pivotal role in his side’s massive 302-run victory.
With 14 wickets in just three matches, Shami has proven himself a key player in India’s World Cup. His impeccable line and length, combined with lethal pace, have left opposition batters struggling. The 33-year-old’s contributions have been instrumental in India’s journey through the tournament.
However, it’s not just his stunning bowling skills that have been making headlines; an incident during India vs Sri Lanka encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday raised eyebrows and stirred a big controversy.
Mohammed Shami’s peculiar gesture
During his exceptional bowling display against the Lankans, a video of Shami quickly gained widespread attention on various social media platforms. In this viral video, the Amroha-born pacer was observed sitting on the ground, seemingly exhausted because of the highly hot and humid weather conditions in Mumbai.
However, the moment sparked a big debate among cricket fans, particularly those from Pakistan, who speculated that Shami intentionally skipped the ‘sajda’ tradition.
Also READ: Afghan fan girl Wazhma Ayoubi’s heartwarming message to Mohammed Shami goes viral – ODI World Cup 2023
Pakistan fans’ out of the box reaction
Pakistan cricket enthusiasts expressed their opinions on social media, trying to give the incident a communal shade. While some questioned Shami’s commitment to his faith, others claimed that he avoided his religious practice due to the pressure from the Indian government and other reasons.
यह क्या करने जा रहा था … ? pic.twitter.com/u9PVdw6Hj2
— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) November 2, 2023
Thank You for Pakistan Jinnah🙏💚#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/50FWjqZpfp
— Hassan (@HassanAbbasian) November 2, 2023
Mohammad Shami was about to do Sajda, and then remembered he’s Indian & will get bashed for it. #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/0Epad4v9fR
— سیدہ میمونہ شیرازی🇵🇰 (@MaimoonaSherazi) November 3, 2023
SHAMI ki performance hamesha se 80 to 100% rahe Mashallah. Kal 5 wkt lene k bad shami sajda me jane wala tha k yad aya shyed aanay waly matches me kahe modi sarkar mujhe bhi irfan pathan, yousaf pathan zaheer khan ki tarha team se out na karde….. pic.twitter.com/0yh32NoPJs
— Muhammad Imran Sharif (@Arain_Emran) November 3, 2023
He was about to perform SAJDA. Why did he stop? Thanks Jinnah For providing us freedom#INDvSL #SLvIND #CWC2023 #MohammadShami_ pic.twitter.com/IHpjUTe6t1
— A Y A A N 🇵🇸🇵🇰 (@ayaantweets69) November 2, 2023
Sajda krte krte 1 ruk gay?? Hindutva k darr se? https://t.co/70rWrudtSc
— Ammar (@Ammar_Yes_81) November 3, 2023
The controversy surrounding Shami’s ‘sajda’ is mainly fuelled by speculation. While the video shows the speedster sitting on the ground and not performing the ‘sajda,’ it is essential to remember that fatigue and exhaustion after a physically demanding performance can be genuine reasons for not observing the tradition. Jumping to conclusions without understanding the context can lead to misunderstandings and unfair criticisms.
