Indian cricket team might have lost the Cricket World Cup 2023 final to Australia by six wickets but individual performances did stand out. The proof was the inclusion of six Indian cricketers in the ICC's Cricket World Cup 2023 XI. (Cricket News)
Virat Kohli was the highlight player, amassing 763 runs in 11 innings that includes the Player Of The Tournament award. The other Indian cricketer who earned respect and plaudits from everywhere was pacer Mohammed Shami.
Shami finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps. His tally was also the most wickets achieved by any Indian bowler in the history of World Cups. However, Shami did not play the first four games of the event as Indian management picked Shardul Thakur because of latter's batting ability.
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However, Hardik Pandya got injured during the Bangladesh tie and India had no option but to pick Shami. The pacer's impact was immediate as he scalped five wickets against New Zealand and since then, did not look back.
However, former Pakistani player Hasan Raza made eyes roll with his controversial statement. Raza stated that ICC might be helping Indian bowlers with some devices installed in their balls and thus they are able to extract so much seam movement.
Shami had criticised Raza's statement on his Instagram story back then. However, he was once again asked about the incident and the pacer did not hold back. He said, "I know I can be bitter while speaking the truth but if I don't open my mouth after all this then it won't be right," Shami was quoted in podcast with PUMA.
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"I'm not jealous of anybody. If you start enjoying the success of others then you can become a better player. I was not playing at the beginning (of the World Cup). Jab khel raha that World Cup, toh 5 wickets liye, 4 wickets aur fir se 5 wickets liye. Kuch Pakistan ke players ko ye baat hajam nahi ho rahi toh main kya karu. Kyuki unke dimaag mein ye hai ki ham best hai. Bhai best woh hota hai jo time per perform kare....aap usme controversy banaya chale ja rahe ho, ki tumhe ball kuch aur colour ki mil rahi hai..kisi aur company ki mil rahi hai....Sudhar jao yaar. (When I started playing, I picked up five wickets then got four and then another five-for. Some Pakistani players couldn't digest it. They think they are the best. The one who performs at the right time is the best. You are creating controversy for no reason. You are saying we are getting different balls, from different companies and all that. Learn your lesson)," Shami added.
Shami also explaied how iconic Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram had explained the process of selecting the balls but still the former cricketers continued with their conspiracy theories.
"Wasim Akram had explained how the ball is chosen. How the fourth umpire brings a box to the fielding team but despite that you say all this? It is understandable if you have not played the game at all. But when an ex-player says all these things, I don't think people would do anything else apart from laughing," he said.
