Indian ace pacer Mohammed Shami’s cousin, Mumtaz, came out in support of his brother and said that he playing for the country and called the people “shameful” who are blaming the cricketer for not keeping the “Roza”. During Ramzan, the 34-year-old player was seen drinking an energy drink during the semi-final clash against Australia at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday, “He is playing for the country. There are many Pakistani players who have not kept ‘Roza’ and are playing matches, so this is nothing new. It is very shameful that such things are being said about him. We will tell Mohammed Shami not to pay attention to these things and prepare for the match on March 9,” Mumtaz said while speaking to ANI.
On Muslim cleric Maulana Shahbuddin criticising Mohammed Shami for not keeping ‘Roza’ during Champions Trophy 2025, cricketer’s cousin Mohammed Zaid sayspic.twitter.com/ClZEnXAFIq
— ANKIT PATEL 🇮🇳 | AI (@Ankit_patel211) March 6, 2025
Shami, who played a key role in India’s victory with figures of 3/48 in 10 overs, has now climbed to the second spot in the list of highest wicket-takers. So far in the mega event, the speedster has grabbed eight wickets in four matches at an average of 19.88.
Maulana Shahabuddin says Shami is a ‘Criminal’:
Earlier, President of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi stoked a controversy by calling Indian-cricketer Mohammed Shami “a criminal” for not observing ‘Roza’ during Ramzan.
Speaking with ANI, Maulana Bareilvi said, “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.”
Maulana Bareilvi said that ‘Roza’ is one of the compulsory duties and anyone who doesn’t adhere by it is a criminal.
“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 said.
“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 said.
Maulana Yasoob defends Shami:
However, the Maulana’s comments have not gone down well, Shia Cleric Maulana Yasoob Abbas slammed the Maulana claiming that the statement was made for cheap publicity.
“The statement given by a Maulana of Bareilly is only for cheap publicity while aiming at Mohammad Shami… Where there is compulsion, there is no religion. Where there is religion, there is no compulsion.
Every Muslim knows that he has to keep Rozas after they are adult and if a person has failed to keep fasts, it is his personal failure and has nothing to do with communilty or religion. There are various people who are not fasting during Ramadan. Why hasn’t he said anything about them?.. It is wrong to involve Roza and Ramzan in controversy,” he said
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