Must he fast or not fast? Shami trolled for an energy drink during the semis

The longstanding question of how professional sportspersons should conduct themselves during the Ramzan month surfaced once again, with senior India pacer Mohammed Shami being subjected to trolling after the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final clash with Australia on Tuesday, 4 March.

Shami was seen sipping on an energy drink while fielding in the deep, at a time when Muslims worldwide are fasting for Ramzan.

Netizens appeared divided — some lauded Shami for placing the country’s interest first, but many have been ridiculing him instead of appreciating that it’s not feasible to keep on playing without being adequately hydrated.

“Har koi Hashim Amla nhi hota (not all are like Hashim Amla),” a user commented on Shami’s Instagram post.

Amla, the new retired prolific batter from South Africa, is a devout Muslim and is believed to have played while on fast during Ramzan — but he never did confirm this himself.

“Kaash roza rakh k khelta... Alag maza aata,” another user commented.

“Shame on you. Please remove Mohammad from your name,” railed yet another.

Shami, who has been leading the pace attack in Dubai in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, has been soldiering on ever since his comeback from an ankle injury that sidelined him for more than 14 months after the 2023 World Cup final.

The 34-year-old struck timely blows to remove newcomer Cooper Connolley, a well-set Steve Smith and Nathan Ellis as India tamed their nemesis Australia in a thriller to make the final on Tuesday.

Speaking to PTI, Shami’s childhood coach Badruddin Siddiqui said: “I think those who are saying anything have no understanding of Islam. This child is playing for the country. He is not playing any local matches… If he is playing for the country, then what is the problem?’’

Fasting as a professional sportsperson, that too in the middle of demanding international assignments, has occasioned despite many times in the past — with many a lay commentator stepping outside the bounds of sensitivity or sense on this issue.

The Quran, however, in verse 2: 183–185 states that exemption to fasting can be granted to those who are travelling or sick or pregnant and can then be postponed until “another equal number of days“.

The Indian pace bowler may not have been ‘travelling’ in the strict sense of the term (with the team having been parked in Dubai since 15 February), but there are precedents when various countries’ religious councils have given athletes leeway from fasting.

One example was from Egypt, during the 2012 London Olympics that took place during Ramadan. The Egyptian High Islamic Council issued a religious edict exempting their athletes from fasting.

Two years later, during the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Rio, the knockout stages fell during the Ramzan and players had to make their own decisions on whether to fast or to make up for it at a later date.

The Mo Salah experience

The issue comes up time and again in the English Premier League as well, where a host of Muslim footballers — including Mohammed Salah — are known to fast during the Ramzan month.

Ahead of the 2019 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid, it was suggested that Salah break his fast on the day of the game.

“We were in Marbella and the nutritionist established a work plan,” Liverpool physiotherapist Ruben Pons said in an interview. “Tomorrow and the day of the match he won’t (fast), so it’s not going to affect him,” he added.

But for ‘Mo Salah’, one of the world’s most publicly observant Muslim athletes, this was more the exception and not the rule — but peers and fans on all sides carried on unfazed.

Certainly, none would have seen fit to make it a matter of contention.

As for those athletes who do — such as Shoaib Akhtar posting recently to say “Roza is not an excuse (to not train)” but a motivator, presumably to focus and excel — it's but an odd example of the scrutiny Muslims in particular find themselves under in these Islamophobic times.

For, when was the last time anyone wondered what Lenten fasts the Christian cricketers are keeping? Or, for that matter, why the Hindus among the Men in Blue didn't avail the VIP snan offerings at the Kumbh.