A torrent of social media abuse was targeted at the only Muslim player in the Indian playing XI, Mohammed Shami, after his side were thrashed by arch rivals Pakistan at the T20 World Cup. Violence against Muslims in India was also reported after the emphatic 10-wicket win on Sunday, Pakistan first victory against India at any World Cup. Cricket clashes between India and Pakistan frequently heighten tensions between the neighbours, who have fought three wars since their independence in 1947. The 31-year-old Shami became the main target after the defeat in Dubai, even though India captain Virat Kohli admitted that his team had been "outplayed". Hundreds of messages were left on Shami's Instagram account saying he was a "traitor" and should be thrown out of the Indian team.Also Read- Virat Kohli becomes first India captain in 29 years to lose World Cup match vs Pakistan Former India batsman Virender Sehwag slammed online trolls for abusing fast bowler Mohammed Shami after India's defeat to Pakistan in the t20 WorldCup on Sunday. "The online attack on Mohammad Shami is shocking and we stand by him. He is a champion and Anyone who wears the India cap has India in their hearts far more than any online mob. With you Shami. Agle match mein dikado jalwa," said Sehwag in a tweet. The online attack on Mohammad Shami is shocking and we stand by him. He is a champion and Anyone who wears the India cap has India in their hearts far more than any online mob. With you Shami. Agle match mein dikado jalwa.— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 25, 2021Sehwag's fellow former India opener said that the online trolls are the ones who earlier used to burn players' effigies after a defeat. Online trolls are the ones who earlier used to burn effigies and throw paint-stones at player’s houses…with an online profile without a face worthy of a profile pic. — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 25, 2021Former cricketer Irfan Pathan also spoke up in support of Shami. “Even I was part of #IndvsPak battles on the field where we have lost but never been told to go to Pakistan!” he tweeted.Even I was part of #IndvsPak battles on the field where we have lost but never been told to go to Pakistan! I’m talking about of few years back. THIS CRAP NEEDS TO STOP. #Shami— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 25, 2021Fans and politicians also urged support for him, calling on Indian players to reject the hate messages just as they had backed the Black Lives Matter movement by taking a knee. "Team India your BLM knee-taking counts for nothing if you can't stand up for your teammate who is being horribly abused and trolled on social media," Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of Kashmir, said on Twitter. "Ignore the haters, most of India's grateful for your effort," said another supporter on Instagram. Gautam Gambhir, a former India Test cricketer who has become an MP for the Bharatiya Janata Party, said it was "shameful" that people were celebrating Pakistan's win. India was defeated by Pakistan in their first match of 2021 T20 World Cup. Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking the three crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. His efforts helped Pakistan restrict India to 151/7. Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam made light work of the 152-run chase, getting to the target in the 18th over to break the World Cup jinx and register their first-ever 10-wicket win in a T20I match.Also Read- Manchester United owners show 'interest' in IPL franchise
Indian captain Virat Kohli on Saturday hit out at the social media abuse that was aimed at pacer Mohammed Shami after the team loss to Pakistan in the ICC Men’s t20 worldcup. The 31-year-old Shami was abused on social media after the 10-wicket defeat in Dubai, even though Kohli acknowledged that his side had been outplayed as a team. In a virtual press interaction ahead of India’s October 31 clash with New Zealand, Kohli brushed aside the “spineless” trolls, suggesting that those on the inside do not care about the “outside voice”. “There’s a reason we are playing on the field and not those spineless people,” Kohli said. “It’s unfortunate and sad to see people getting entertained. That is why we are doing what we are and those spineless people are doing what they are.” “Many people hide their identity in social media then try to troll the players and it is the lowest point in their life – all dramas outside due to the lack of self-confidence of them, we know how to back the players, there is no value from the outside voice.” Regrettably, Shami, the only Muslim player in the playing XI against Pakistan, was targeted over his religious beliefs, whereas incidents of communal harmony being disrupted in a few parts of the nation were reported the same day. “To me attacking someone over their religion is the most pathetic thing a human being can do. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion but I personally have never even thought of discriminating someone over their religion,” Kohli said. “This is literally the lowest potential as a human being one can operate at.” “That [religious beliefs] is a very sacred and a personal thing to every human being and that should be left there. People take out their frustrations because they obviously have no understanding of what we do as individuals. They have no understanding of how much effort we put on the field. They have no understanding of the fact that someone like Mohammed Shami has won India a lot of matches in last few years and he’s been our primary bowler with Jasprit Bumrah when it comes to making an impact. “We are doing what we are doing on the field and none of these people [trolls] are even in the vicinity to even imagine doing something like that. They do not have the courage or the spine to do that. That is how I see things. “As a group, we understand how we need to stick together and how we need to back individuals and how need to focus on our strengths and whether people on the outside portray the fact that India cannot afford to lose a game of cricket is none of our business because we play sport and we understand how sport goes. So, how people think on the outside adds no value whatsoever. We never focussed on it and we will never focus on it going forward either.” “If people can overlook that and his passion for the country, honestly I don’t even want to waste one minute of my life to give any attention to the people, neither does Shami and neither does anyone else in the team. We stand by him fully. We are backing him 200% and all those who attacked him can come with more force if they want to. “Our brotherhood, our friendship within the team and nothing can be shaken. I can guarantee you as a captain of the team that we have built a culture where these things will not even be infiltered into this environment at all and that is a absolute guarantee from my side. A slew of former indian cricketer stood in solidarity with Shami. “The online attack on Mohammad Shami is shocking and we stand by him. He is a champion and anyone who wears the India cap has India in their hearts far more than any online mob. With you Shami. Agle match mein dikado jalwa,” tweeted former India opener Sehwag. Sachin Tendulkar, too, lauded Shami for his commitment, while he reckoned that like any other player, it was merely an off day for the pacer. “When we support #TeamIndia, we support every person who represents Team India. @MdShami11is a committed, world-class bowler. He had an off day like any other sportsperson can have. I stand behind Shami & Team India.”Also Read- I believe that India can win the T20 World Cup: Virender Sehwag
