Mohammed Shami at the SIR hearing (Source: @PTI_News/x.com)
Mohammed Shami’s absence from the Indian squad has been a long-awaited unsolved puzzle. Adding to this, the seasoned pacer was seen presenting himself before the election authorities in Kolkata as part of a pre-arranged hearing linked to the ongoing SIR.
Since his early days, he shifted to Kolkata and represented Bengal in domestic cricket. Amid growing unease around the ongoing process, Shami struck a reassuring note, reminding citizens that this is everyone’s responsibility.
Shami turns up for the SIR hearing in Kolkata
As the nationwide SIR gathers momentum, several prominent names have already made appearances, and another high-profile figure has now joined the list. On Tuesday, veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was seen appearing for the hearing in Kolkata.
At a very young age, the Indian pacer shifted to West Bengal and has been a resident of Katjunagar for a long time. Being the registered voter of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, he was called for the verification of the SIR process with his brother Md Kaif.
Originally hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Shami’s parents were not listed in the state’s electoral rolls, adding a layer of complexity to the case. Adding to this, some logical inconsistencies in his documents prompted his call in the SIR hearing.
Shami says it is a responsibility for all citizens
Along with his brother, he reached Katjunagar Swarnamayee Vidyapith for the hearing, and the source said that they provided their passports as proof of their identity. Completing the entire process within 15 minutes, Shami reflected on the experience and shared a message for the fellow Indian citizens.
“I am a proud Indian and a Bengal citizen. If called 10 times I will come and prove my citizenship on every single occasion,” Shami said.
“I believe it is every citizen’s duty to get his or her name and details corrected. I did so, and I urge every citizen to appear for hearing if called and get the necessary corrections done,” he said.
“I faced no problem, and they (poll officials) handled it really well. I have been staying here for the last 25 years. If they call me again, I will come back and cooperate with them in the process,” he added.
As per the reports, his initial hearing date was during the second week of January but Shami was busy with domestic duties as he was playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal. After he informed the BLO about his commitment, he got a new date and appeared for the process.
When will Shami feature for India?
Despite being the absolute best across the format, Mohammed Shami’s long-term absence from the Indian squad is now raising eyebrows. After his heroics in India’s Champions Trophy triumph, he never returned in India's colors. Representing Bengal in the domestic format, Shami showcased his excellence across the format.
All his heroics counted for little when he was left out of the ODI series against Australia, a blow that stung deeply. The heartbreak deepened as he was ignored for the recently ended ODI series against New Zealand. He has been snubbed even for the T20 World Cup, and his comeback has become a massive mystery.
