New Delhi, March 8 -- Amid row over Mohammed Shami not observing roza (fasting) during the holy month of Ramadan, renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar has expressed his support for the Indian bowler, asking him not to pay attention to "reactionary bigoted idiots".

The row was triggered after Shami was spotted consuming an energy drink during the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final match against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday.

After the visual of the pacer went viral on social media, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, said Shami had committed a sin by not fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan.

Akhtar asked the cricketer to ignore all the negativity and praised his performance in the ...