World Cup 2023: 'Have some shame', Mohammed Shami hits back at Hasan Raza over claims of India using altered balls

India pacer Mohammed Shami has hit back at former Pakistan cricketer Hasan Raza following the latter’s claims of India using altered cricket balls in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

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“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. It seemed like the ball started doing things. An inspection is required to be done on the ball. There might be an additional layer of coating for a better swing,” Hasan Raza had said on Pakistani news channel ABN News.

Replying to this, Shami slammed Hasan Raza for his “nonsense” comment. “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,” Shami uploaded in his Instagram story in Hindi, along with the video of Hasan’s comments.

Shami hitting strongly on-field & off-field….!!!! pic.twitter.com/hpbvum2VMl

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 8, 2023

Wasim Akram had also slammed Hasan Raza for his comments on the issue, saying: “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 Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have been on a roll in the World Cup, having taken a combined total of 41 wickets between them.

Shami, who had missed the first four matches of the World Cup, has played a pivotal part in the second half of India’s league stage campaign, having taken 16 wickets from four games. This includes two five-wicket hauls.

India qualified for the semi-finals with a win over Sri Lanka in their seventh game, and are unbeaten after eight games in the round-robin stage. The Men in Blue round off the league stage with a game against Netherlands in Bengaluru on Sunday, before shifting focus to the semi-finals.