INDIA pace bowler Mohammed Shami, who had a terrific outing with the bowl in the 50-over cricket World Cup at home last year, on Friday (26) cast his ballot in the national elections in Amroha in his home state of Uttar Pradesh.
After voting, the 33-year-old cricketer urged citizens to exercise their franchise and "elect the government of their choice". and also thanked prime minister Narendra Modi for taking his name while addressing a public rally in Amroha ahead of the polls.
"I just want to say that every citizen has the right to cast their votes and elect the government of their choice...It is a matter of pride for me that PM Narendra Modi took my name during his speech (in Amroha) and praised me and my game," Shami told the media. He was accompanied by his brother and sister-in-law during polling.
Recently, Modi said about Shami while addressing a rally in Amroha, ”The whole world has seen the amazing feat that bhai Mohammed Shami did in the Cricket World Cup."
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Indian prime minister Narendra Modi embraces an emotional Mohammed Shami after visiting the dressing room Team India to raise their spirits after the loss to Australia by 6 wickets in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 final match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat, on November 19, 2023. (ANI Photo)
On the main plank during the elections, Shami said Amroha has a number of issues, including development, schools, colleges and medical colleges.
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Amroha was among eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh -- India's most populous state that sends the most number of members to the Lok Sabha or Lower House of the Indian parliament -- that went to polling on Friday when the second phase of the marathon elections were held.
Modi had showered praise on Shami during the World Cup, particularly after he had taken a seven-fer against New Zealand in the semi-finals to take India into the final. Modi was seen embracing the bowler after visiting the Indian dressing room following the home team's heart-breaking defeat to Australia in the final.
The award-winning bowler has not played any cricket since then due to a surgery on his Achilles tendon and the prime minister wished him a speedy recovery as well.
Shami, who has more than 400 international wickets, is currently recovering and last week, he gave his fans an update on his injury and added that he could not wait to make a comeback.
On Instagram, Shami wrote in the caption of a reel he posted, "Injuries don't define you, your comeback will... Can't wait to be back out there with my team! #mdshami #recoveryjourney #shami #mdshami11"
Shami missed India's tour of South Africa and the home series against Afghanistan and England as well as the ongoing Indian Premier League where he was supposed to play for the Gujarat Titans.
In the World Cup, he had taken 24 wickets in only seven matches after he replaced an injured Hardik Pandya in the game against New Zealand.
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