Former Pakistani cricketer and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, making an intriguing claim through gestures, said during a show on a Pakistani news channel on June 24 that Indian fast bowlers like Arshdeep Singh are consistently tampering with the ball in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Inzamam mentioned that Indian bowlers are altering their deliveries to ensure reverse swing.
Inzamam, along with former Pakistani captain Salim Malik, raised questions about Arshdeep’s reverse swing deliveries during a discussion about India’s Super 8 match against Australia. Both former cricketers claimed that for any fast bowler, the game accelerates a bit faster for the 14th or 15th over to get reverse swing on the ball. Inzamam and Salim Malik said if Pakistani bowlers had done this, there would have been an uproar by now.
What did Inzamam-ul-Haq Say about Arshdeep Singh?
Inzamam-ul-Haq stated on a TV show, “Arshdeep was bowling during the 15th over, and at that time, the ball was reversing. This happens very quickly, which means the ball had become suitable for reverse swing by the 12th over. Umpires should be vigilant about this.”
He continued, “We know how and when reverse swing occurs. If Arshdeep Singh was getting reverse swing in the 15th over, it means serious work had been done on the ball.”
Malik supported Inzamam-ul-Haq during this discussion, saying, “Inzi, I always say that when some teams are mentioned, eyes are shut, and India is one of those teams. I remember when Wasim Akram was bowling in Zimbabwe, he had made the ball wet, and we were all surprised. On one hand, how did the ball become wet, and when I went to complain, I was fined.”
Also Read: Pakistan Cricket Team T20 Stats: Most Runs, Most Wickets, Highest Score and More
Arshdeep Singh & Jasprit Bumrah have Taken 26 Wickets in T20 World Cup 2024
Arshdeep and Jasprit Bumrah are in excellent form in this World Cup. Arshdeep Singh has taken a total of 15 wickets in the 6 matches he has played so far. After Fazalhaq Farooqi (16 wickets), Arshdeep is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has taken 11 wickets in 6 matches. What’s noteworthy is that Bumrah has delivered wickets for the Indian team when they needed it the most. Arshdeep, at 22 years old, played a crucial role in India’s victory against Australia with his spell of 3/37 against his tough opponents.
Hasan Raja had said during the ODI World Cup, “Indians are getting special balls”
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, the fierce bowling of fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj was a torment for Pakistan, causing jealousy. One of them was former Pakistani player Hasan Raja, who had alleged that Indian bowlers might be receiving special balls different from those given to other teams, which could explain their exceptional performances. Following this, Wasim Akram had rebuked Raja for his comments.
Rohit Sharma’s Befitting Reply to Inzamam-ul-Haq
Before the semifinal match against England, during a press conference, when Rohit Sharma was asked about this matter, the captain reacted in a way that would have surprised Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Rohit said, “What answer should I give right now, brother? The pitches are quite dry. All teams are getting reverse swing. You need to keep an open mind. This isn’t Australia or England… I’ll just say that.”
Rohit Sharma’s response has gone viral on social media. It should be noted that India had put up a splendid performance against Australia in the Super 8 stage. Indian bowlers have troubled opposition batsmen with their bowling in the T20 World Cup, while Pakistan’s team couldn’t even reach the Super 8 stage, which led to considerable criticism of Pakistani cricket. In this context, the remarks by Pakistan’s former captain have once again stirred controversy in world cricket.
