Mohammed Shami is one of the greatest bowlers to represent the Indian cricket team. The fiery pacer has won many matches across formats and is the 8th most successful bowler in terms of wickets taken for the Men in Blue. Therefore, when someone accuses Shami of age fraud, it must be taken seriously. The pacer’s done so much for Team India that tarnishing his image for some views online isn’t done.
Shami’s trail by social media
Shami’s already been through a lot for the last couple of years. He was accused of domestic violence and match-mixing by his now ex-wife, Hasin Jahan. Fortunately, he was cleared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) regarding the match-fixing allegations.
Social media had gone after him when these allegations were made by his ex-wife in 2018 and then once again in 2021 after Team India lost to Pakistan at a World Cup for the first-ever time. Given how Shami’s been treated online, one mustn’t take the word for such associations and wait for an official verdict instead of passing judgment.
Mohammed Shami’s age according to his ‘alleged’ driver’s license
However, one must know what supposed ‘proof’ has been presented to allege that Shami committed age fraud. An X (formerly Twitter) user posted what seemed like Shami’s driver’s license. The tweet claimed that the pacer was eight years older than that’s his official age. That means Shami was born in 1982 and not 1990. So, the pacer’s actually 42 years old as of now and not 34.
The post in question has now been deleted by X due to a violation of their rules. However, images of Shami’s ‘alleged’ driver’s license are now circulating. There isn’t any confirmation or evidence that the document is real. Of course, this doesn’t just question Shami but also the BCCI.
Age fraud, a sports ‘crime’ in India
Age fraud is considered a serious offense in not just cricket but every sport in India. The Ministry of Youth and Sports’ rules on the matter read: “Fundamental Rationale for the code 3.1 NCAAFS seeks to preserve the core values of sports which are honesty, fair play and team spirit. 3.2 The Athletes who indulge in age fraud in sports not only violate these core values, but also put genuine athletes in a disadvantageous position.”
Cricket’s age issue
Sportspersons are often suspended and banned for committing age fraud in India. In cricket specifically, many cricketers get banned for short period (1-2 years) for age fudging. This happens primarily due to U-19 cricket. In an attempt to play for their state or India, many junior cricketers reduce their age either on their own or under the influence of their parents or coaches. Just two days ago, six players, including the captain of Hyderabad’s U-19 team, were banned for two years for age fraud.
What implications could this have on Shami’s career?
Officially 34, Shami already doesn’t have much time left as a fast bowler. James Anderson may have played until 42, but the Englishman is an outlier. Most pacers fizzle out long before 40. Shami’s just coming off an injury and has yet to prove his fitness. However, if these age fraud allegations are proven to be true, we can expect a minimum of a 1-year ban on Shami. That means the chances of him returning in the Indian jersey would massively decrease.
Players like Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Yash Dayal are waiting for opportunities, and with Shami gone, all could have a crack for a spot. We all know that with passing age, questions over your place in the XI increase. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja had one bad series with the ball in years, and people started to call for their heads simply because both are over 35. The same would happen to Shami, and the selectors might move ahead without considering him if he indeed is proven to judge his age.
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