New Delhi: Indian cricket team's senior speedster Mohammed Shami was subjected to online abuse after India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match as some merciless trolls on social media had linked his dismal bowling performance against Pakistan with his religion.
Last October, Virat Kohli-led India had lost to Babar Azam-led Pakistan by 10 wickets in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match played in Dubai. Shami had a poor outing against Pakistan as he turned out to be India's most expensive bowler, conceding 43 runs in 3.5 overs at an average of 11.21. India could not even make it to the knockout stage of this World Cup.
Many months have passed since India's loss to Pakistan and now 31-year-old Mohammed Shami, for the first time ever, has broken his silence on being targeted and trolled by what he calls 'neither fans nor real Indians' in his first reaction. He said that he does not need to prove to anyone his loyalty to India.
In an interview with the Indian Express on Monday, Shami said those who trolled him were neither "real fans nor were they real Indians".
"When people with unknown social media profiles or even one with a few followers point fingers at someone, they don't have anything to lose," the paceman said.
"For them nothing is at stake because they are nobodies... we don't need to engage with them."
Shami added that he did not need to prove his loyalty to India to anyone.
"We know what we are, we don't need to say what India means to us because we represent the country and fight for the country.
"So we don't need to prove anything to anyone by saying or reacting to such trolls."
Since making his debut in 2013, Shami has taken 209 wickets in 57 Test matches with a strike rate of nearly 50. He is currently sidelined due to a wrist injury, but added that the present Indian pace attack was the best ever.
"With the kind of Test match bowling we have now, I don't think we ever had such a period in our cricketing history," he said.
(With AFP Inputs)