Ex-players stand by Shami amid online hate; Imran takes potshot
NEW DELHI: Several former Indian cricket stars rushed to support Mohammad Shami after he was singled out for vicious and sustained online abuse that focused on his religion in the aftermath of India’s 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in their opening game in the T20 World Cup.
The 31-year-old fast bowler, who has been a star performer across formats, is the lone Muslim player in the Indian squad for the tournament. He found his Instagram account flooded with abusive messages that went to the extent of calling him a “traitor”, and asking for his removal from the team.
Among those from the cricket fraternity leading the messages in support of Shami was Sachin Tendulkar, who condemned the trolling on Twitter.
“When we support #TeamIndia, we support every person who represents Team India,” Tendulkar tweeted. “@MdShami11 is a committed, world-class bowler. He had an off day like any other sportsperson can have. I stand behind Shami & Team India.”
However, till the time of going to print on Monday, no player from the Indian squad in the UAE had spoken out against the attacks.
In Punjab, students from Kashmir said they were beaten up. “It is distressing to hear about the incidents of physical & verbal assault against some Kashmiri students in a college in Punjab last night. I request @CHARANJITCHANNI ji to direct @PunjabPoliceInd to look in to this & also to reassure the students studying in Punjab,” National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan did not make things any better in the middle of the prevailing tension.
“We have excellent relations with China, but if somehow we improve our relationship with India - I know after last night’s thrashing by the Pakistan team in the cricket match, it’s not a very good time to talk about improving relations with India,” he said.
NEW DELHI: Several former Indian cricket stars rushed to support Mohammad Shami after he was singled out for vicious and sustained online abuse that focused on his religion in the aftermath of India’s 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in their opening game in the T20 World Cup.
The 31-year-old pacer, who has been a star performer across formats, is the lone Muslim player in India World T20 squad. He found his Instagram account flooded with abusive messages that went to the extent of calling him a “traitor”, and asking for his removal from the team.
Among those from the cricket fraternity leading the messages in support of Shami was Sachin Tendulkar, who condemned the trolling on Twitter. “When we support #TeamIndia, we support every person who represents Team India,” Tendulkar tweeted. “@MdShami11 is a committed, world-class bowler. He had an off day like any other sportsperson can have. I stand behind Shami & Team India.”
Former left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan, who is part of the broadcast team for the World Cup, tweeted: “Even I was part of #IndvsPak battles on the field where we have lost but never told to go to Pakistan! I’m talking about a few years back. THIS CRAP NEEDS TO STOP. #Shami”
Former India spinner Harbhajan and current leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who was not included in the World Cup squad, also came to Shami’s support. “We love you @MdShami11,” wrote Harbhajan on Twitter. Chahal added: “We are so proud of you @MdShami11 bhaiya.” Virender Sehwag tweeted: “The online attack on Shami is shocking and we stand by him. He is a champion and anyone who wears the India cap
has India in their hearts far more
than any online mob. With you Shami. Agle match mein dikado jalwa.”
However, till the time of going to print on Monday, no player from the Indian squad in the UAE had spoken out against the attacks, prompting some commentators to question this omission from a team that made a statement by taking a knee in support of the Black
Lives Matter movement before the start of the match. “Team India your BLM knee-taking counts for nothing if you can’t stand up for your teammate who is being horribly abused and trolled on social media,” Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir, said on Twitter.
The reference was to the India team taking a knee in support of
the BLM movement before the start of the match. The Pakistan team, after skippers Virat Kohli and Babar Azam agreed to the gesture, also supported it by holding their hands to their hearts. The anti-racism BLM gesture has become common across sport over the last two years, and West Indies and England players also took the knee before their Super 12 match a day earlier.