'Sudhar jao yaar': Mohammed Shami laughs off bizarre claims by former Pakistan players

Mohammed Shami took down former Pakistan player Hasan Raza who claimed India used a different set of balls at the World Cup to gain an advantage. He found it hard to believe that a former player, who had played at the highest level of the game, could come up with such ridiculous claims. Raza, on a Pakistan television show, claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave a different set of balls to ensure India capitalised more on the tournament’s conditions and pitches compared to other teams. Shami, who came into the side after an injury to Hardik Pandya, took a fifer against New Zealand in Dharamsala to get things underway. He then picked up a four-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul in the next three matches. The pacer ended with 24 wickets in seven matches, including three five-wicket hauls. In the semi-final against New Zealand, Shami recorded the best ODI bowling figures by an Indian after claiming seven wickets. “In their mind, they think ‘we (our pacers) are the best’. I think the best are the players who perform at the right time. But you are trying to create controversy, keep on saying stuff that ‘ball is looking in a different colour, you are getting a different company’s balls, ICC has given you a different set of balls’. Sudhar jao yaar (Mend your ways),” Shami said in an interview with Puma.

Mohammed Shami gave a hard reply to Pakistan. 🔥 https://t.co/IYOCJ9tuOh

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 22, 2023

Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram refuted the allegations, and he went on to explain how match balls are allocated to teams and how bowlers can select them from a designated set carried on to the field by officials. “In an interview, Wasim bhai (Wasim Akram) spoke about the process and explained how bowlers have the liberty to choose them. Even after such clarification? I can still understand if someone who hasn’t played the game at this level makes such comments. But as an ex-player, if you come up with these things, people will dismiss it with laughter,” he went on to add.