Mohammed Shami criticised for taking 'dirty hit' at Inzamam-ul-Haq: 'His remarks were below the belt'

Mohammed Shami has been criticised by Salman Butt for ridiculing former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for his bizarre comment during the T20 World Cup 2024. He has slammed Shami for taking a 'dirty hit' at Inzamam, also a former selector of Pakistan.

During the T20 World Cup 2024 which India won by beating South Africa in Barbados on June 29, Inzamam-ul-Haq had questioned Arshdeep Singh's ability to reverse-swing the ball in the 15th over itself. He had suggested the umpires to keep an eye on the ball, indirectly saying that India were tampering with the ball.

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Mohammed Shami was asked for his suggestion during a YouTube podcast named 'Unplugged' by Shubhankar Mishra, the star India pacer that Pakistan should focus on the betterment of their cricket and stop making vague comments fooling their people. He also said that they should select a team of match-winners and avoid favouritism.

Salman Butt has now connected Shami's comment with Imam-ul-Haq's selection in the Pakistan squad. Notably, the Pakistan opener is the nephew of Inzamam. However, Shami was responding to a current allegation on Pakistan selectors for picking players of their choice.Selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq were sacked by PCB for the same reason after Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2024 debacle.

"Mohammed Shami's comments targeted Inzamam-ul-Haq. He targeted Inzamam by speaking about Pakistan picking their team based on personal relations, and I think this is wrong. This is wrong because if you look at Imam's record, he came into the Pakistan team on the basis of his performance. He was also dropped when he failed. Shami's remarks were below the belt and he shouldn't have said such things," Salman Butt said on his YouTube Channel.

“Yes, there was a controversy, which should've been avoided. A lot of people made statements, Inzamam also said something, Rohit Sharma also clarified, and the topic was over. But to say things about selecting players just because they are relatives is a dirty hit. Such things don't suit Mohammed Shami. He is a renowned bowler, like how Inzamam was a renowned captain,” Butt added.

Mohammed Shami was also targeted by former Pakistan cricketers for his extra-ordinary run in the ODI World Cup 2023. They had claimed that the ball was being changed when India was bowling.