Chandigarh [India]: Former cricketer Yograj Singh has strongly condemned Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed for her controversial remarks about India’s cricket captain, Rohit Sharma. Mohamed had criticized Rohit’s fitness, calling him “fat” for a sportsman and “the country’s most unimpressive captain” following his dismissal for 15 (17) against New Zealand in India’s final group stage match of the Champions Trophy. Her comments sparked outrage across the nation, especially with India’s semi-final clash against Australia approaching.
Reacting to the remarks, Yograj Singh did not hold back. He stated that if he were the Prime Minister, he would have asked Mohamed to “pack her bags and leave the country.”
“I only want to say one thing, ‘jiska kaam usi ko saaje aur kare to danda baaje’ (the work only suits those to whom it belongs; if done by anyone else, it is ruined). Indian cricketers, people, and the land are more dear to me than my own life. If someone in the political system makes such a statement about a player who has brought pride to our nation, that person should be ashamed,” Yograj told media.
He further criticized Mohamed’s comments as unpatriotic, asserting that such statements should not be tolerated.
“They have no right to stay in our nation. Cricket is our religion; we lost against New Zealand and Australia, and a lot of things were said about Rohit and Virat. We stood up for them. I feel so sad. These things happen in Pakistan. Their former star player said, ‘Who will eat so many bananas?’ (Taking a jibe at Wasim Akram). Action should be taken. This should not be tolerated. If I were the Prime Minister, I would have said, ‘Pack your bags and leave the country,'” he added.
In response to the backlash, Shama Mohamed clarified her stance, denying any intent to body-shame Rohit Sharma.
“It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not body-shaming. I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. I have been attacked for no reason. When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying that? It is a democracy,” Mohamed told media.
Her clarification did little to quell the outrage on social media, where cricket fans and analysts have criticized the remarks as inappropriate and disrespectful to one of India’s most successful cricketers. The incident has further intensified the debate on the boundaries of criticism in sports and the responsibility of public figures to maintain decorum.