Internet Reacts – CriceXtra

Shama Mohamed Supports Mohammed Shami in Roza Controversy

Zezan D'Souza — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 23:05:04 +0000

Shama Mohamed Supports Shami in Roza Controversy: Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has found himself in the middle of a controversy after a video of him drinking a hydration drink during the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal against Australia went viral. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed, who had previously criticized Rohit Sharma, has now come forward to defend Shami.

Shami played a key role in India’s semifinal win over Australia on March 4 in Dubai. He was India’s top wicket-taker in the match, finishing with figures of 3/48 as India bowled Australia out for 264 runs in 49.3 overs. India went on to win the match by four wickets and secured a spot in the final.

Criticism for Not Fasting During Ramzan

Maulana Shahabuddin Rizvi, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, criticized Shami for not observing Roza (fasting) during the match. He even called Shami a “criminal” for breaking his fast while playing.

“One of the compulsory duties in Islam is Roza (fasting). If a healthy person does not observe Roza, they are considered guilty. Mohammed Shami, a famous Indian cricketer, was seen drinking water or another beverage during a match,”
he told ANI.

Shama Mohamed Defends Shami

Shama Mohamed has strongly defended Shami, saying that Islam allows exceptions to fasting while traveling. She explained that as a cricketer playing away from home, Shami had every right to break his fast.

“In Islam, there is a clear rule about fasting during travel. When we are away from home, we don’t have to observe Roza. Mohammed Shami is traveling and playing an intense sport, so there is no obligation for him to fast. Islam is a very scientific religion, and it values good deeds more than anything else,”
she told ANI.

This statement comes after Shama Mohamed faced backlash for her now-deleted tweet criticizing Rohit Sharma. She had made remarks about his weight and called him the “most unimpressive Indian captain.” Her comments were condemned by former cricketers like Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Gavaskar.

Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali Supports Shami

Another Islamic scholar, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, also supported Shami. He pointed out that Islam gives people the option to skip fasting if they are traveling or unwell.

“Fasting is an important duty, but the Quran clearly states that travelers and sick people are allowed not to fast. Shami was on an international tour, so he had the choice. No one has the right to criticize him for that,”
he said.

Shami’s Performance in Champions Trophy 2025

With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable, Mohammed Shami has been leading India’s pace attack in the Champions Trophy. He made a strong start with a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh but went wicketless in matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. So far, he has taken eight wickets, making him India’s top wicket-taker in the tournament.

Shami will now focus on India’s final match against New Zealand on March 9 in Dubai. He will be aiming to win his first ICC tournament and help India lift the Champions Trophy.

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Cheteshwar Pujara Eyes Test Comeback for England Series

Zezan D'Souza — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:55:05 +0000

Cheteshwar Pujara Eyes Test Comeback: Experienced Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has expressed his strong desire to return to the national Test team for the upcoming five-match series against England in June. The veteran cricketer, who has been out of the squad for a while, believes he still has the hunger to score runs and is ready to grab any opportunity that comes his way.

Pujara last played for India in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, where the team suffered a 209-run defeat. Since then, he has been active in domestic cricket, most recently featuring for Saurashtra in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Gujarat. In that match, he scored 26 runs as Saurashtra was bowled out for 216.

“I’m Ready to Take Any Opportunity” – Pujara

Speaking at the RevSportz Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave, Pujara expressed confidence about making a comeback. He acknowledged that as an experienced player, he needs to work even harder to earn his place back in the squad.

“I’m playing domestic cricket, and if given a chance, I’m ready to grab it with both hands. The hunger is even greater now. As you grow older, you have to put in extra effort,”
Pujara said at the event in Kolkata.

India struggled to find a stable No. 3 batter during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where they lost the series 3-1. Several players, including Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, were tried in that position, but none could consistently perform. This has led to discussions about bringing back Pujara, who has been a reliable presence at No. 3 for over a decade.

“Australia Are the Toughest Opponents in Test Cricket” – Pujara

Reflecting on his Test career, Pujara recalled India’s historic series win in Australia in 2018-19, where he played a crucial role by scoring 521 runs. He described Australia as the toughest team to face in Test cricket and compared the victory to winning a World Cup.

“Australia are the toughest team in Test cricket. India never likes to lose to them, and that’s why the 2018 series win felt like winning a World Cup. It was the biggest achievement of my Test career, along with the 2020-21 series win when we repeated history,”
he said.

“India Has a Strong Chance in England” – Pujara

Looking ahead to the Test series in England, Pujara sounded optimistic about India’s chances. He emphasized that India has a strong bowling attack, but the batters need to step up and put enough runs on the board while adapting to the tough English conditions.

“We have the bowling attack to win matches. Our batters just need to score runs and respect the conditions and opposition bowlers. I won’t say we don’t have a chance,”
Pujara stated.

For the first time, India failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. They will now begin their new WTC cycle with the five-match Test series against England.

Pujara’s Test Career in Numbers

Since making his Test debut in 2010 against Australia, Pujara has played 103 matches, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60. His record includes 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He has also played 16 Tests in England, where he has accumulated 870 runs at an average of 29, including five fifties and one century.

With the England series approaching, it remains to be seen whether the selectors will give Pujara another chance to showcase his experience and resilience on the big stage.

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Aakash Chopra Reveals India’s Secret Weapon for Champions Trophy Final Against New Zealand

Zezan D'Souza — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:42:23 +0000

Aakash Chopra Reveals India’s Secret Weapon: Former Indian cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra has suggested a bold change to India’s playing XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. The much-anticipated clash is set to take place in Dubai on Sunday, March 9.

Chopra believes India should drop left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for a tactical reason and bring in off-spinner Washington Sundar. He thinks Sundar could be India’s surprise weapon in this high-stakes final.

Why Chopra Wants Washington Sundar Over Kuldeep Yadav

Chopra pointed out that New Zealand’s batting lineup has several left-handed players, making Sundar’s off-spin a valuable asset. The cricket expert believes Sundar’s ability to bowl economically and trouble left-handers could be a game-changer for India.

On his YouTube channel, Chopra explained his reasoning:

“I think Washington Sundar should replace Kuldeep Yadav for this match. It’s not about Kuldeep’s form, but a tactical move based on match-ups. Strategically, Sundar could be a great pick against New Zealand.”

He also reminded fans that Sundar has performed well against the Black Caps before, mentioning his previous success at venues like Pune and Wankhede.

“Sundar’s resurgence in international cricket started against this very team. So, there is a strong case for his selection,”
Chopra added.

Chopra’s Take on India’s Team Balance

While Chopra acknowledged that India’s current playing XI has been successful throughout the tournament, he argued that adding a right-arm off-spinner could give the team better balance.

“There’s no rule that says you must stick to the same team. People say, ‘Why fix something if it isn’t broken?’ But when you look at our bowling lineup, we already have Varun Chakravarthy as a wrist-spinner and two left-arm finger spinners in Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. We don’t have a right-arm off-spinner, and that’s why Sundar could be a smart choice,”
Chopra concluded.

Kuldeep Yadav’s Performance in Champions Trophy 2025

Kuldeep Yadav has had a decent but not outstanding tournament. In four matches, he has taken five wickets at an average of 36.60 and an economy rate of 5.01. While the Dubai conditions have favored spinners, Kuldeep has struggled to make a big impact.

In the group stage match against New Zealand, he picked up two wickets but failed to take any in the semifinal against Australia.

India vs New Zealand in ICC Knockouts

Historically, New Zealand has had the upper hand against India in ICC knockout matches. The two teams have met in four such games, with the Black Caps winning three of them. Most notably, they knocked India out of the 2019 World Cup semifinal in England.

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“Absolute Nonsense” – Jason Gillespie Fires Back at Sunil Gavaskar

Zezan D'Souza — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:25:46 +0000

Jason Gillespie Fires Back at Sunil Gavaskar: Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has hit back at Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar for his recent comments about Pakistan cricket. Gavaskar made the remarks after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they were knocked out in the group stage despite being the hosts and defending champions.

Pakistan’s Poor Performance in Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan had a disastrous campaign, failing to win a single match.

They lost their opening game to New Zealand by 60 runs.
In their second match, they were beaten by India by six wickets.
Their final game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain, sealing their early exit from the tournament.

After Pakistan’s elimination, Gavaskar claimed that even India’s second-string team could defeat them in their current form.

“I think an Indian B team could definitely challenge Pakistan. I’m not sure about a C team, but the B team would be very tough for them to beat,”
Gavaskar said on Sports Today.

Jason Gillespie Dismisses Gavaskar’s Comments

Jason Gillespie strongly disagreed with Gavaskar’s statement, calling it “absolute nonsense.” The former Australian fast bowler believes that Pakistan has the talent to beat any team if they select and support the right players.

“I don’t believe this at all. I saw Sunil Gavaskar’s comments about India’s B or C team being better than Pakistan’s top team. That’s absolute nonsense,”
Gillespie said.

“If Pakistan picks the right players and gives them time to grow and develop, they can compete with any team in the world. The key is to select top-quality talent, support them, and be patient,”
he added.

Pakistan Cricket Lacks Patience – Gillespie

Gillespie also pointed out that impatience is a major issue in Pakistan cricket. He said that unless the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) backs its players and staff properly, the team’s performance will not improve.

“There is far too much impatience in Pakistan cricket. If the PCB wants better results, they need to hire the right people, choose the best players, and support them for the long run,”
he explained.

Coaches Need Time to Bring Change

Gillespie also emphasized that coaches need time to build a strong team. Without stability, he said, Pakistan will continue to struggle.

He was appointed Pakistan’s Test coach in April last year but resigned in December after being removed from the selection panel during the Test series against England. Similarly, Gary Kirsten, Pakistan’s white-ball coach, also stepped down just six months after taking charge.

“The same applies to coaches. If you hire a coach, give them time to create something meaningful. Otherwise, the results will remain the same,”
Gillespie said.

Pakistan now faces the challenge of rebuilding their team, but unless long-term plans are put in place, their struggles might continue.

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New Zealand Coach Gary Stead Reveals Toss Plan Before Champions Trophy Final vs India

Zezan D'Souza — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:13:52 +0000

New Zealand Coach Gary Stead Reveals Toss: New Zealand head coach Gary Stead may have accidentally revealed his team’s strategy for the final against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The big match is set for Sunday, March 9, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

This will be the second time India and New Zealand face off in the tournament. They previously played each other in the group stage, where India won by 44 runs. India scored 249 runs and then bowled out New Zealand for 205, with spinner Varun Chakravarthy taking five wickets.

Chakravarthy a Big Concern for New Zealand

Ahead of the final, Stead admitted that New Zealand would likely choose to bat first if they win the toss. His reason? The threat of India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy.

Speaking to reporters, Stead explained that it is easier for batsmen to face Chakravarthy during daylight. He acknowledged that the spinner is a major challenge for New Zealand and said his team must figure out a way to counter him.

“When you are facing a wrist spinner like him, you look for small clues as a batsman. I think it’s a bit easier to spot them in daylight,”
Stead said.

“There’s no doubt that he is a top-class bowler. He showed his skills against us last time, and he will be a big threat in the final. We need to come up with a plan to handle him while still scoring runs,”
he added.

Matt Henry’s Injury Update

Stead also shared an update on fast bowler Matt Henry, who is uncertain for the final due to a shoulder injury. Henry hurt himself while taking a catch during the semifinal against South Africa.

Although he briefly left the field, he later returned to bowl. Stead said the team remains hopeful, but Henry’s fitness is still unclear.

“The good thing is that he managed to come back and bowl. He has undergone scans, and we will give him every chance to play. But at this stage, we are not sure if he will be fit,”
Stead said.

“He is quite sore after landing on his shoulder, but we hope he recovers in time.”

New Zealand will be eager for Henry to be fit as he has been their best bowler in the tournament. So far, he has taken 10 wickets in 4 matches, including a five-wicket haul against India.

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