Pakistan’s TV broadcast of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has been an entertaining affair. While the likes of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik and Misbah ul Haq have been at their entertaining best picking apart the abject performances of the Pakistan team in the tournament and have on more than one occasion given good social media content, the other spectrum of it also has seen some TV anchors and other former cricketers’ ridiculous and baseless conversations in the name of ‘expert opinion’. One such conversation on a news channel ‘ABN’ with former Pakistan international cricketer Hasan Raza will leave you in disbelief.
After India’s marauding win over Sri Lanka at the Wankhede in which Indian pacers bowled out SL for a lowly 55 in defence of 357, the anchor of the said cricket show had a very curious query to ask Raza. Are Indian bowlers given some special balls to bowl that is making them look extraordinary?
The anchor goes on to ask, “Is there a possibility that Indian bowlers are given a different ball? The amount of seam and swing Indian bowlers are getting it seems Indian bowlers are bowling on a bowling wicket, ‘ajeebo gareeb’ (weird) seam and swing.”
While you might think it is a frivolous comment or allegation to make in the first place, wait till what Raza replies with.
“Shayad ball be change ho jata hai second innings mein; jiss tareeke se ICC ball de raha hai, ya fir third umpire panel de raha hai, ya BCCI de raha hai; iska inspection hona chahiye”, says Raza.
