New Delhi: Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami has responded to former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq over his ball-tampering remarks against young Indian speedster Arshdeep Singh during the T20 World Cup 2024.
Arshdeep’s brilliant spell of 3 for 37 in India’s 24-run win over Australia in the Super 8 stage was linked with the possibility of changing the ball, as doubted by the 1992 World Cup winner. Speaking on Pakistan’s 24 News channel after that game, Inzamam commented:
“You can’t ignore the fact that when Arshdeep Singh was bowling the 15th over, the ball was reverse-swinging. Isn’t it too early for the new ball to start reversing? The ball was ready to reverse by the 12th-13th over. Umpires should keep their eyes open. We a know a bit about reverse swing, so if Arshdeep Singh is able to reverse swing the ball, some serious work was done on the ball.”
Reacting to the former Pakistan batting mainstay’s allegations on Arshdeep, Shami, who was the leading wicket-taker of the 2023 World Cup last year, rubbished the theory.
“I have said in an interview that I will cut the ball and show if there is a device or not. Abhi ek aur namuna khod ke dia hai inhone. They said, ‘How can Arshdeep Singh get reverse swing?’ I want to say only one thing to Inzamam bhai. I respect him a lot. If you do the same thing, isn’t it ball-tampering? Those who do well against them, will be their target. India and Pakistan are arch-rivals,” Shami said on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel.
“I don’t expect that despite being ex-players you can say such thing. Even Wasim Akram said how umpires give you the ball and it is not possible to plant any device in it. This type of cartoongiri is not good. These statements are there to fool people,” he added.
When Shami was claimed to get special balls in 2023 World Cup
Former Pakistan pacer Hasan Raza made dubious remarks during the 2023 World Cup in India, levelling allegations that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) favoured the Indian team by providing them ‘special balls’. He asked for the matter to be looked into.
Shami lashed out at Raza in a social media post just before India’s final league stage fixture against the Netherlands. He wrote on his Instagram story at that point:
“Have some shame. Focus on the game, not on random nonsense. For once, try to enjoy others’ success. This is the ICC World Cup, not your local tournament.”
“You were actually a player, right? Wasim bhai explained it, but still – you don’t believe your own player, your own Wasim Akram. You are busy praising yourself. Wow.”
Shami hasn’t been action in competitive cricket since India’s defeat to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad on November 19. He underwent ankle surgery in February this year, which forced him to miss IPL 2024 and T20 World Cup 2024.
Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami has responded to former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq over his ball-tampering remarks against young Indian speedster Arshdeep Singh during the T20 World Cup 2024. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
