Indian cricket team pacer Mohammed Shami found himself embroiled in an unnecessary controversy after being targeted over not keeping Roza (fast) during the ICC Champions Trophy match against Australia. The visual of Mohammed Shami consuming an energy drink during the match, which fell after the start of the holy month of Ramzan, became a big talking-point on social media. The visual prompted the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, to label Shami a ‘sinner’ for the act.
Since the controversy broke, Mohammed Shami has received the support of many on social media over the matter. Even former India spinner Harbhajan Singh asked for religion and sports to be not mixed with each other. Legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar also gave a piece of advice to Shami amid this controversy.
Mohammed Shami accused of not having fasts during Roza
During the semi-final game in the Champions Trophy 2025 vs Australia, held in the scorching heat of Dubai, Mohammed Shami took a break to hydrate himself—a perfectly normal action for any athlete playing under extreme conditions. However, some individuals on social media attempted to stir controversy, questioning why he was drinking water while observing Roza (fasting during Ramadan).
Controversy arose after Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami was seen drinking an energy drink during India’s semi-final match against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025. The timing of the match, which took place during Ramzan, sparked criticism from some sections of the Muslim community. Despite the Indian team’s victory, the semi-final win was overshadowed by this controversy.
The issue has caused a divide among Muslim clerics and scholars, with some condemning Shami’s actions, while others have offered a more lenient interpretation based on Islamic principles.
On Thursday, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat (AIMJ), publicly criticised the cricketer, stating that Shami had sinned by not fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan.
“In the eyes of Shariat, he is a criminal, he should not have done this at all,” the Barelvi cleric stated.
However, Muslim cleric Maulana Qari Ishaq Gora defended Shami’s actions, saying that Islam permits breaking the fast under certain circumstances, such as for professional athletes. He clarified that as long as the reason for not fasting is legitimate and falls within the guidelines of Shariat, it is not sinful.
Khadim of Ajmer Dargah, Syed Afshan Chishti, also came to Shami’s defence. He criticised Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi’s statements, calling them baseless and attention-seeking.
“Mohammad Shami is playing for our country and is a pride of India,” Chishti said.
“While the entire nation is praying for the Indian team’s success in the Champions Trophy, people like Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi are making baseless statements just to gain cheap publicity.”
The debate extended beyond religious figures, with Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan, offering a perspective on balancing religious observance with national service. Saraswati suggested that athletes who cannot fast due to their professional commitments should not be judged harshly. Legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar also gave a piece of advice to Mohammed Shami amid this controversy.
Javed Akhtar comes in support of Mohammed Shami
Senior Indian screenwriter, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar recently extended support to pacer Mohammed Shami after he received criticism for not observing ‘roza’ (fast) amid the holy month of Ramadan during the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy.
The national president of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Rizvi, recently referred to Shami as a ‘criminal’ for taking an energy drink/water during the Champions Trophy semi-final match against Australia.
Javed Akhtar put his weight behind the Indian pacer, pointing out that he was playing a high-intensity cricket match under the hot sun in the afternoon. The veteran lyricist also applauded Mohammed Shami for his stellar performances for India and extended good wishes. On his X handle, Akhtar wrote:
“Shami saheb, don’t give a damn to those reactionary bigoted idiots who have any problem with your drinking water in a burning afternoon at a cricket field in Dubai. It is none of their business. You are one of the great Indian team that is making us all proud My best wishes to you and our whole team.”
Team India faced a huge setback ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy after their bowling spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, was ruled out due to a back injury he suffered during the BGT Test series in January. In his absence, the team management looked towards another pace stalwart, Mohammad Shami, to lead the bowling attack during the Champions Trophy. There was uncertainty about Shami’s form leading into the tournament as he was coming back after a lengthy injury hiatus of more than a year away from international cricket.
Mohammed Shami handled the responsibility well as he picked up eight wickets from four games and played a vital role in India’s unbeaten run into the Champions Trophy final. Only New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, with ten wickets, is above him in the wicket charts ahead of the summit clash.