Mohammed Shami has hit out at the ball-change conspiracy theories which were doing the rounds among former Pakistan cricketers during the 2023 World Cup.

Shami was the highest wicket-taker at the World Cup, taking 24 wickets in just seven games at an average of 10.70. He came into the India XI after Hardik Pandya was injured during their match against Bangladesh in Pune and started off with two five-fors in his first three matches.

Following India’s match against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where India bundled them out for 55 with Shami taking 5-18 from just five overs, former Pakistan international cricketer Hasan Raza floated a conspiracy theory on a news channel in Pakistan. He said that the balls that were given to India needed to be checked as they might have been of a different variety which was helping them generate more swing and seam.

“Here I feel like the ball is getting changed mid-innings the way it is behaving. Whether it is the ICC that is providing the balls, or the umpires panel, or the BCCI, there should be an inspection on it. I think the balls should be checked,” Raza said.

He had also complained of marginal DRS calls going in India’s favour: “We have also seen that some DRS decisions have gone in favour of India. There have been seven to eight DRS calls that have been close that have gone in India’s favour.”

Shami, in an interview with Puma after the World Cup, spoke about the comments and expressed disappointment. “I wasn’t playing [initially]. When I played, I took a five-for, then a four-for in the next game, then another five-for. Now what can I do if a few Pakistan players can’t digest this fact?” said Shami.

“Because in their minds, they think they are the best. Best are those who perform at the right time. Those who work hard, perform, and stand up for the team, they are the best according to me.

“Now you are creating controversies about that saying, “You have been given a different coloured ball,” “You have been given a ball from a different company,” “ICC has given you separate balls,” etc. Dude, please do better.”

A few days after the ball-change theories started generating traction in Pakistan following Raza’s comments, Wasim Akram debunked them saying that it brought shame onto Pakistan as a whole.

“I want to have the same thing these guys are having, sounds like fun. Beizzati apni toh karaani hi karaani, saadi bhi na karao pure duniya wich (Please don’t bring disrespect onto our country in front of the world along with yourself),” said Akram.

Shami alluded to Akram’s comments and said that despite a legend like him explaining how picking the ball works, the comments didn’t stop. “The same thing was explained in an interview by Wasim [Akram] bhai. How balls arrive in a box, how they are chosen, which team chooses first. Even then!” said Shami.

“This would be understandable if you’re not a player who has played at this level. But you’re an ex-player. If you talk like this, I don’t think people will have anything else to say other than laughing at you. I accept that I might be a bit harsh, but I have to speak out for such things.”

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.