I don't need to prove my loyalty with country to anyone: Muhammad Shami
Trolls are not 'real Indians or real fans': Indian fast bowler
Indian cricket team's Muslim fast bowler Mohammad Shami has sharply criticized trolls in his first comment after being subjected to online abuse after Pakistan's defeat in the T20 World Cup. Muhammad Shami, 31, became the target of online trolling when Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets in a T20 World Cup match in October last year.
Cricket disputes between India and Pakistan often escalate tensions between neighbors. India's defeat was followed by a flood of thousands of hate messages on social media, with Mohammad Shami's Instagram account calling him a traitor and accusing him of taking money to defeat India.
In an interview with The Indian Express on Monday, Mohammad Shami said that the people who trolled him were neither "real fans" nor "real Indians".
The fast bowler said that when people with unknown social media profiles or even a few followers point fingers at someone, they have nothing to lose.
He said,''None of these trolls are in danger because they are none. We don't need to argue with them''. Shami added, ''he did not need anyone to prove his loyalty to India.''
Muhammad Shami said that we know what we are, we do not need to say what India means to us because we represent the country and fight for the country, so we are on such trolls.
No one needs to prove anything by saying or reacting. Since making his debut in 2013, Mohammad Shami has taken 209 wickets in 57 Test matches with a strike rate of around 50.