Shami offers clarification on 'Sajdah' controversy

Indian pacer Mohammad Shami has offered clarification regarding the much debated “Sajdah controversy”. Earlier certain trolls on social media speculated that after picking up a 5-wicket haul in India’s thumping 302-run victory against Sri Lanka in the ICC ODI CWC 2023, Mohammad Shami wanted to perform “sajdah” (prostration to Allah) and knelt down and even put his head partially for that. The trolls stated that he feared backlash from the Indian audience and retreated from doing so at the last minute. When asked about it in an interview with Sports Tak, he 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 in this? I will say it with pride that I am a Muslim. I will say it with pride that I am an Indian. What's the problem in 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 5-wicket haul before? I have taken many five-wicket hauls. You tell me where you have to pray, and I will go and pray there.” 

Shami stated that he had put in his 200% on that day and was hence tired. It is for this reason that he knelt down and someone patted him on the head at that time giving the false impression to the viewers. He derided the trolls for being invested in things not having significance.