Mohammed Shami bashes Pakistan’s Hasan Raza for his claims of India using altered cricket balls: ‘Have some shame…this is World Cup and not your local tournament’

The Indian pace trio of Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have accounted for a total of 41 wickets between them at the ongoing tournament from the eight matches India have played so far.

India's Jasprit Bumrah, left, leaves the field with Mohammed Shami after India won their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match against England in Lucknow, India. (AP)

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India’s premium pacer Mohammed Shami has criticized former Pakistan cricketer turned broadcaster Hasan Raza for his comments on the Indian pacers using altered cricket balls in the ongoing 2023 World Cup to make a better impact.

“The way Siraj and Shami were swinging the ball, it seemed like the ICC or the BCCI were giving them different and suspicious balls in the second innings. An inspection is required to be done on the ball. There might be an additional layer of coating for a better swing.” Raza had said on ABN News.

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In response to the same, Shami wrote on his Instagram story, “Have some shame. Focus on the game and not this nonsense. Sometimes, you should enjoy the success of others. This is World Cup and not your local tournament. You were once a player, right? Wasim bhai had explained it, and yet. You don’t trust your own player? You are only praising yourself.”

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram had also bashed Raza for his comments on the matter, “I have been reading about it from last couple of days. I want to have the same things these guys are having… sounds like fun. Don’t make fun of us in front of the world, please keep those insults to yourself.”

The Indian pace trio of Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have accounted for a total of 41 wickets between them at the ongoing tournament from the eight matches India have played so far. Shami, who leads the wickets chart for India with 16 scalps from four games, also became the all-time leading wicket taker for India, pipping Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath (44) from just the 14 outings in the tournament.

Next up, India play the Netherlands in their last league stage match in the tournament – having already qualified for the semifinals as the top ranked team.