GUWAHATI: Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami on Thursday, March 6, faced criticism from a Muslim cleric for not observing a Ramzan fast during India’s semi-final match against Australia. The match was held during the month of Ramzan, a period when Muslims traditionally fast from dawn to dusk.
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Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, called Shami a “criminal” for drinking juice during the match. In a video statement, he claimed that fasting is a duty in Islam and skipping it without valid reasons was a sin. "If any healthy man or woman doesn’t observe ‘roza’, they will be a big criminal," he said. Bareilvi added that Shami’s decision to drink water on live television sent the wrong message to people.
However, Shami's decision to skip fasting received support from Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahli, an executive member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. He cited the Quran, which allows travelers to skip fasting and make up for it later. "If a person is on a journey or unwell, they have the option not to observe Roza,” Mahli clarified. “Nobody has the right to question him."
Shami’s family also defended him, urging him to ignore the criticism and focus on the Champions Trophy final. His cousin Mumtaz condemned the controversy, stating, “He is playing for the country. Many Pakistani players have also not kept Roza while playing matches. It is shameful that such things are being said about him.”
Shami’s coach, Mohammed Badruddin, also dismissed the cleric’s remarks, saying that nothing comes before the nation. "Shami is not at fault. He has the support of the entire country," Badruddin said.
India defeated Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final by four wickets. Australia, after opting to bat first, was restricted to 264 runs. Shami played a positive role, taking three wickets in his 10-over spell, conceding 48 runs.