Kolkata: Indian cricket team’s pace spearhead Mohammed Shami returned to the city of joy today with his family after completing his first Sri Lanka tour successfully. Shami took 10 wickets in three Test matches to help India to register a 3-0 whitewash against the hosts. India skipper Virat Kohli said couple of day’s back that he rates him among the top three pacers in World cricket. Shami looked very pleased with his skipper’s gesture.
“I am honoured to have a skipper like Virat Kohli. If your captain backs you every time, it’s a big moral booster for any cricketer and it helps him to perform well in any situation. Virat always backed me every time in my career. When I was injured he regularly communicated with me. I didn’t play a single match during the ICC Champions Trophy but Kohli always said that I am an important member of the squad. Virat backs everyone in the field when the team is fielding and that is really a plus point of him as a skipper,” said Shami while talking to www.xtratime.in correspondent Sabyasachi Bagchi.
Indian team management always wants to keep Shami fit as he is a very important member of the squad. India will play a lot of crucial matches in near future. On being asked whether he had asked the team management to provide him some rest, Shami replied,” I haven’t asked anyone to give me any rest. They might have thought that if I get an ample rest, I would bowl with more intent. I am always available to play in all formats. And now after getting this free time, I will spend most of the time with my family. Except that I will go to the gym to keep me fit for my next assignment.”
It was Shami’s first tour of Sri Lanka. He looked really pleased after returning from a successful tour.” I am very happy with my performance. It was the first time that we won an overseas Test series with a margin of 3-0.”
Ahead of the Sri Lanka tour an unfortunate incident happened with Shami and his family, where few goons gave him life threat too. Though the local police arrested all the criminals in that case. Remembering the incident Shami said,” After leaving for Sri Lanka, I was a bit concerned for my family as they were still in Kolkata. Later they came to Kolkata between the series and I had spent some good time with them in Lanka after coming back to the team hotel from the ground.”
Ishant Sharma is the most experienced bowler of the side, but the team management is backing Shami in the Test matches. On being asked about the case the Bengal bowler replied,” It’s a big responsibility for me to perform well while dawning the jersey of the country. I always give my 100% in every match and I am happy that I am doing something which is helping my side.”
According to Shami the help of support staffs is really very crucial for them to play well in the field.” The support staffs always take care of each player every time, which is one of the main reasons of our team’s success.”
Ahead of the third Test, few team members of the Indian cricket team went to visit Ashok Vatika, where Ravana had kept Sita, the wife of Rama. Mohammed Shami too went there with her daughter and wife. Few Muslims slammed Shami on social media by saying that it is sin to visit a place of Hindu’s. Shami gave a tight slap on the face of those people.” It’s their mindset. I won’t say anything regarding this. A religion haven’t told anybody to divide any people on the name of their name.”