Team India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has come under the vicious attack of the Pakistan media and fans who accused him of aborting from doing 'Sajdah' (gesture to thank almighty) during the 2023 World Cup clash between India and Sri Lanka on Thursday at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. A few Pakistan cricket fans and journalists have given a communal angle to the gesture from the right-arm seamer.
After dismissing Kasun Rajitha in the 13th over of the Sri Lankan innings, Shami kneeled and touched the ground with his both hands to celebrate his 5-wicket haul even as his teammates hounded him to cheer him.
Below is the video of the same:
A few Pakistani fans and journalists took to X (formerly Twitter) showing their communal intent slammed India's star pacer Shami for not doing Sajdah. Their vile attack was befittingly countered by Team India fans who hit back at them for keeping religion at the forefront of everything and being obsessed with it. Many pointed out that the Amroha-born pacer looked exhausted as he kneeled owing to the hot and humid weather conditions in port city Mumbai.
Notably, Pakistan keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan performed Sajdah after hitting a match-winning hundred against Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament in Hyderabad. Rizwan performing namaaz during a break in the match between Pakistan and Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad sparked a massive controversy. Indian lawyer Vineet Jindal lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against the Pakistani wicket-keeper batter contending that offering prayers in front of the spectators, predominantly Indians, is a clear display of his religious identity and said it impacts the spirit of sportsmanship in the game of cricket.
Below are the reactions from either sides over Mohammed Shami's celebration:
Mohammed Shami becomes the highest wicket-taker for India in World Cup history:
Shami's firey form in the 2023 World Cup has taken his wickets tally in the tournament to 14 in 3 innings at a stunning 6.71 apiece. With 45 scalps in 14 World Cup matches, he is now India's highest wicket-taker in the World Cup history too.
Team India's 302-run victory over Sri Lanka propelled them to the semi-finals of the tournament. Nevertheless, they still have a couple of matches to go against South Africa (November 5th) and the Netherlands (November 12th).
