India's ODI and T20 World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh has jumped in defense of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami amidst criticism over his choice to hydrate himself instead of fasting during the holy month of Ramzan. Shami has been called a "criminal and sinner" for drinking electrolytes during Ramzan in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal clash against Australia.
"I think I just want to say that this is my personal view-I might be wrong or right. Sports should be treated separately. People who feel religion is playing this role or that role, I think it's fine to kind of do your routine-what you do in your religion. But people expecting Shami to do this or Rohit Sharma to do this or any XYZ to do this or that during a certain period (is not fair)," Harbhajan said while speaking to India Today.
"You might be doing it because you are sitting at home or doing your own routine work. But when you are playing as a sportsman, if you don't keep yourself hydrated, you might collapse," he added.
"And of course, with the kind of heat they are playing in, I think they need to drink water. They can't go through the game without having a drink or a snack. It's your body, after all-you need fuel."
Harbhajan said that it is Shami's choice whether he wants to fast or not. He feels that the controversy will not affect Shami's performance in the final against New Zealand on March 9.
Shastri's performance in Champions Trophy 2025 so far
34-year-old Shami claimed three wickets against Australia. In the match against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma did not want to exert him and gave only four overs. He was injured in the match against Pakistan and did not bowl his full quota of 10 overs. Before two wicket-less games, he bagged a fifer against Bangladesh in India's campaign opener. He is India's leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far.
He has been leading the pace attack in the absence of an injured Jasprit Bumrah. In the last two games, he was picked as the only speciallist pacer in the team as Varun Chakravarthy replaced Harshit Rana. He has shared the new ball with pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.