Political Debate Arises Over Exclusion of Shami and Siraj from India’s T20 World Cup Team

The exclusion of Muslim pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj from India's T20 World Cup 2026 playing eleven has sparked political debate in Maharashtra. AIMIM MLA Mufti Ismail and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi alleged religious bias in team selections, linking it to India's defeat against South Africa. However, NCP and Congress leaders dismissed these claims, emphasizing merit-based selection and citing historical Muslim representation in Indian cricket. Maharashtra officials also stressed that team choices are tactical and performance-driven.