T20 World Cup: Targeting someone for his or her faith is unpardonable – Mohammad Kaif on trolls against Shami

ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Mohammad Kaif opened up on the online trolls and abuses that has been directed at Mohammed Shami ever since India’s defeat against Pakistan in their Super 12 match on Sunday.

The entire cricketing fraternity has been rallying behind Mohammed Shami after he faced online abuse following India’s loss (AP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSIndia lost their T20 World Cup opener vs Pakistan by 10 wickets on Oct. 24Mohammed Shami has been subjected to online trolls and abuses since the defeatMohammad Kaif said targeting a player like Shami for his/her faith was “uncalled for and unpardonable”

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif once again spoke out in support of fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who was subjected to online trolls, abuses and threats on social media after the national team’s crushing defeat against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on October 24.

Kaif said targeting Shami for his faith and asking him to leave the country for being a muslim was “uncalled-for and unpardonable” in his opinion after India lost their first-ever World Cup-game against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on October 24.

“I have been witnessing how Mohammad Shami was trolled after the game against Pakistan. I have played enough cricket to understand that the fans do get angry when their team loses a game by a big margin.

“A batsman getting out for zero or a bowler getting hit for a six will always face abuse be it in a World Cup clash against Pakistan or an under-arm gully cricket game. But targeting someone for his or her faith, asking them to leave the country is uncalled-for and unpardonable,” Kaif wrote in his column for India.com

“Just imagine how a player, who for all his life has sacrificed everything to earn an India cap, would be feeling.

“But Shami, I know, is a tough cricketer. I can tell him from my experience, we have much more genuine fans in our country who give us unconditional love and they can easily outnumber the trolls on social media.”

Kaif was also pained to see former cricketers from India and Pakistan engage in ugly war of words on social media and on news channels after the high-profile clash in Dubai.

Kaif was referring to the likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Mohammad Amir and Waqar Younis, who have been making controversial statements since last Sunday.

“In this backdrop, it is painful to see the ugly spats between former players and the very disappointing behaviours of the fans on social media,” Kaif wrote.

Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.