Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami is being targeted online for not observing fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, after he was seen consuming a beverage during the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final match against Australia on Tuesday (March 4).
Taking a jibe at Shami, multiple social media users recalled Hashim Amla’s iconic triple century against England during a 2012 Test match, claiming that the former South African player had scored 311* runs while fasting during Ramadan. Newschecker, however, found the claim to be untrue.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
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Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Hashim Amla,” “triple century” and “fasting” on Google led us to a report by The Guardian, dated July 22, 2012, on the former cricketer’s record-breaking knock against England at The Oval.
“Amla claims that he eats like a rabbit but, unfortunately from the perspective of England’s bowlers, he does not bat like one. The only surprise is that this devout Muslim is eating at all, for it is Ramadan and in the past not even Test cricket has been allowed to interrupt the vigilance of his religious observance. Here, though, he has put fasting on hold.” the report stated.
“Because I’m travelling away from home I don’t have to fast. So I haven’t been fasting. But I will make it up when I get home,” the report quoted him as saying.
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We also found a 2017 article by the South Africa and women’s cricket correspondent for ESPNcricinfo, Firdose Moonda listing Amla’s “seven most memorable hundreds.” Detailing his iconic triple century against England, the article stated, “It was the Muslim month of Ramadan at the time and, although Amla was not fasting on match days, he chose to keep his consumption private as a mark of respect.”
Another article in Cricbuzz website corroborated that Amla was not fasting during his iconic innings. “And as it was Ramadan, Amla did not drink any water out on the field – although he was not fasting on match days, he kept his consumption to the confines of the dressing room out of respect for his fellow Muslims who were (fasting),” it stated.
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Conclusion
Hence, the viral claim that Hashim Amla scored a triple century while fasting for Ramadan during a 2012 match against England was found to be false.
Sources
Report By The Guardian, Dated July 22, 2012
Article By ESPNcricinfo, Dated January 11, 2017
Article By Cricbuzz , Dated August 8, 2019
