‘Shami saheb, don’t give a rattling’: Javed Akhtar backs Mohammed Shami amid Roza controversy | Cricket News

Mohammed Shami (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar has prolonged his assist to Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami, who just lately discovered himself on the heart of controversy after Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, the President of All India Muslim Jamaat, labeled him “a criminal” for not observing ‘Roza’ throughout Ramzan.
Akhtar urged Shami to ignore the remarks made by these criticising him for ingesting water throughout a scorching afternoon on the cricket discipline in Dubai.

The controversy erupted after the Indian pacer was seen consuming an power drink throughout a match between India and Australia on the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Tuesday.
Taking to Twitter, Akhtar wrote: “Shami saheb, don’t give a damn to those reactionary bigoted idiots who have any problem with your drinking water in a burning afternoon at a cricket field in Dubai. It is none of their business. You are one of the great Indian team that is making us all proud. My best wishes to you and our whole team.”

The difficulty gained additional traction after Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi criticised Shami for not fasting and known as him “a criminal” within the eyes of Shariat.
“By not keeping ‘Roza’ he (Mohammed Shami) has committed a crime. He should not do this. In the eyes of Shariat, he is a criminal. He will have to answer God,” he mentioned.
“One of the compulsory duties is ‘Roza’ (fasting)… If any healthy man or woman doesn’t observe ‘Roza’, they will be a big criminal. A famous cricket personality of India, Mohammed Shami had water or some other beverage during a match,” Maulana Bareilvi added.

“People were watching him. If he is playing, it means he is healthy. In such a condition, he did not observe ‘Roza’ and even had water… This sends a wrong message among people,” he additional acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Shami delivered a match-winning efficiency for India, taking 3/48 in 10 overs throughout the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal match in opposition to Australia..
His stellar kind has propelled him to the second spot on the listing of highest wicket-takers within the match, with eight wickets in 4 matches at a mean of 19.88.