India, March 7 -- Congress leader Shama Mohamed who called Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma fat in a now-deleted social media post backed bowler Mohammed Shami amid the row over Muslim cleric's criticism of him for not observing 'Roza' during Ramzan.

The controversy began when president of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi called Mohammed Shami "a criminal" for not observing 'Roza', an observation seemingly made by him on seeing the bowler sipping on what looked like an energy drink during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal clash against Australia.

Coming out in support of Mohammed Shami, Congress leader Shama Mohamed said on Thursday that In Islam, "nobody insists that when you're playing a sport, you have to ...