Indian fast bowler Mohamed Shami has responded once again to the controversial claims made by the Pakistani media about the ball during the 2023 World Cup.
As India’s pacers steamrolled their opponents and looked almost unplayable, former Pakistan cricketer Hasan Raza made a highly controversial statement. The former cricketer alleged that the Indian players were getting a different ball from the ICC or the BCCI which helped them swing the ball. He had also requested an inspection, saying:
“The way Siraj and Shami were swinging the ball, it seemed like the ICC or the BCCI were giving them different and suspect balls in the second innings. An inspection of the ball is necessary. There could be an extra layer of coating for a better swing.”
The comments came after India defeated Sri Lanka by just 55 runs thanks to a sensational five-wicket haul from Mohammed Shami. Raza had faced severe criticism for his bizarre claims during the World Cup. Even former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram lashed out at him and asked him not to humiliate the entire country in the process of embarrassing himself.
Mohammed Shami reacts to Hasan Raza’s comments:
While no member of the Indian team reacted to Raza’s claims during the World Cup, Mohammed Shami did. The star pacer took to Instagram to criticize Raza and ask the former Pakistan cricketer to be a bit embarrassed and focus on the game.
At a recent event, Mohammed Shami once again spoke about the controversy. Speaking on Agenda Aajtak, the 33-year-old said he burst out laughing when he heard Raza’s claims for the first time. He also revealed that he wanted to make a video debunking the claims, but he didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.
“Does this ball have any device? (laughs while looking at the ball). When I heard this, I asked myself ‘how can someone ask such a stupid question?’ Even now that I think about it (that statement), I am not able to control my laughter.” said Mohammed Shami in Aajtak.
“How can a player know which ball he uses? And those talks about a device placed in the ball and all that… I can’t believe it.
“I was thinking about making a video about it. But I didn’t do any because it would have generated more chatter. I thought I would take the ball and break it up and show it to people if there is something different inside or not.” Shami said.
The Indian star went on to give a funny statement about the controversy, saying: “Okay, even if we had some special device on the ball, what would happen if we pressed the wrong button? What happens if you press in and out instead of out?
“I didn’t expect that someone who played at the highest level could talk like that. I don’t think those things should be said. “It’s not relevant at all.” he added.
Shami finished the World Cup as the highest wicket-taker despite not playing the first four matches. The right-arm pacer took a staggering 24 wickets in just 7 matches with the help of a record three five-wicket hauls.