NEW DELHI: Fast bowler
Mohammed Shami
played a key role in taking India to the ICC World Cup final last month, but he was irate over those who trolled him for what was perceived as '
sajda
' (Islamic prayer posture) after one of his five-wicket hauls during the showpiece 50-over event.
Shami finished the World Cup as the best bowler with 24 wickets and has been nominated for the Arjuna Award for his remarkable feat.
India, however, lost to Australia in the final of the tournament.
After taking five wickets in the league match against Sri Lanka, Shami knelt and subsequently faced trolling for what the fans construed as the bowler doing 'sajda'.
When asked about it by an Aaj Tak anchor, Shami said: "If I wanted to pray, who could stop me? I won't stop anyone from praying. If I want to pray, I will pray. What's the problem with this? I will say with pride that I am a Muslim. I will say with pride that I am an Indian. What's the problem with that?".
“If I have to ask permission to pray from someone, then why should I be in this country? Have I ever prayed after taking a five-wicket haul before? I have taken many five-wicket hauls. You tell me where I have to pray, and I will go and pray there," Shami added.
During the ODI World Cup, Shami became the fastest bowler to reach 50 wickets in the tournament, achieving the mark in only 14 matches. It also made him India's top wicket-taker in the 50-over World Cup, overtaking fellow pacers Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath.
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