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Team India’s seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami has broken his silence on the discrimination he believes he endures as a Muslim cricketer in India, both on and off the field. Despite a stellar record—including being India’s joint-highest wicket-taker at the Champions Trophy 2025 – Shami has found himself on the sidelines, overlooked for recent tours and subjected to vicious online trolling after high-profile matches against Pakistan. As he pushes for a national comeback, Shami’s candid revelations shed light on the emotional toll of prejudice in modern sports and underscore his unshakeable focus on performance.
Mohammed Shami speaks out on reported bias towards Muslim cricketers in India
Shami’s absence from the five-match Test series in England and the Asia Cup squad has fuelled speculation about bias in selection, particularly after pre-announcements suggested he would tour Australia only for his name to be omitted at the last minute. With 462 international wickets to his name, including 24 scalps in the ODI World Cup 2023, his exclusion has baffled fans and pundits alike.
Off the field, the scrutiny intensifies. After India’s defeat to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shami – then the lone Muslim in the playing XI – faced a torrent of hate on social media, with trolls branding him a “traitor” and “anti-national,” accusing him of deliberately bowling poorly to aid Pakistan’s victory.
He recalled ignoring these attacks in an interview with News24. “I have been given a job. I am not a machine. If I am working hard throughout the year, sometimes I will fail, sometimes succeed. It depends on the people how they take it”.
Shami’s restraint highlights the profound emotional strain athletes endure when personal prejudice eclipses professional contribution.
Shami’s defiant call for respect
In a historic first, Shami directly addressed whether Muslim cricketers face greater backlash during India–Pakistan encounters. His response was resolute: “When you play for your country, you forget all such things. It becomes more important for you to take wickets and win matches. I do not want to go on social media at such a time.”
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Rather than succumb to negativity, he has challenged detractors adding “True fans will never do this. If you have an objection, raise it respectfully. If you think you can do better than me, please come and try. It is always open.”
Shami’s stance has garnered support from teammates and cricketing icons. Virat Kohli condemned religious vitriol as “the most pathetic thing that a human being can do,” while Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag publicly backed the pacer during the 2021 controversy, underscoring his value to the team and denouncing hate-fuelled attacks. Their solidarity amplifies Shami’s message: that bigotry has no place in sport.
Undeterred by selection snubs or digital slurs, Shami remains steadfast in his pursuit of a return to the Indian lineup. He has dismissed retirement rumours, committing to domestic cricket until a national call-up comes, and assured fans of his fitness ahead of the Duleep Trophy, reaffirming his readiness to excel at the highest level. Shami’s journey illustrates that true champions are defined not only by their on-field achievements but by their resolve to confront prejudice with dignity and perseverance.
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