India's ace pacer Mohammad Shami said he was shocked to see former Pakistan players accuse India of using a different set of balls at the World Cup to gain more advantage. He added that he was not able to believe how a former player, who has been part of the sport at the highest level, could even think of making such claims.

 

It should be noted that Mohammed Shami had dismissed the claims from former Pakistan cricketer Hasan Raza with a story on his social media page during the World Cup. Raza, in a Pakistan television show, alleged that the International Cricket Council had given a different set of balls to make sure India made more out of the conditions and the pitches than the rest of the 9 teams in the tournament.

Raza's comments left most of the cricket fraternity dumbstruck, with quite a few dismissing them as 'ridiculous'. Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram dismissed the allegations, explaining in detail the process of how the match balls are allocated to teams and how the bowlers can pick and choose them from a selected set that the match officials carry onto the field.

Shami, who was benched for the first 4 games of the World Cup, was back in the playing XI after Hardik Pandya got injured. After this, he was unstoppable from his very first game as he finished with a 5-wicket haul against New Zealand in Dharamsala. Shami took 24 wickets in 7 matches, including three 5-wicket haulls. In the semi-final against New Zealand, Shami registered the best ODI bowling figures by an Indian after picking 7 wickets.

"I have been hearing during the World Cup even when I was not playing. When I started playing, I took 5 wickets, then in the next match 4, in the next match 5, a few Pakistan players were not able to digest it. What can I do?" Shami said in a chat for Sportswear giant PUMA.

 

 

 

"In their mind, they think 'we (our pacers) are the best'. I think the best are the players who perform at the right time. But you are trying to create controversy, keep on saying stuff that 'ball is looking in a different colour, you are getting a different company's balls, ICC has given you a different set of balls'. Sudhar jao yaar (Mend your ways).

"In an interview, Wasim bhai (Wasim Akram) explained it, helped them understand clearly how the balls are being allocated, how bowlers can choose them. Even after that? I can understand if someone who has not played the game at the level talks like this. But you are an ex-player and if you talk like this, I don't think people will do anything other than laugh it off," he added.

 

 

 

Shami explained that he had been working extremely hard behind the scenes to execute his plans and achieve his target, adding that it's his mantra of success. Shami said he would not be jealous if someone else does what he did in the World Cup, saying the best bowlers step up at the biggest of the stages.

 

"A lot of bowlers are there, but how is this man's ball swinging that much? Hard work is there, determination is there, there is hard work and there is execution. If you execute in the right way, you will get results. I am not saying the others are not doing it right, but I am trying to execute my skills, set a target and achieve it.

 

"I am praying that 10 other bowlers perform this way. I am never going to be jealous. If you learn to enjoy the success of other players, I think you have the chances of becoming a better player. The almighty is going to give whatever he wants to," he added.