Former Pakistani skipper Wasim Akram has blasted his former teammate for accusing the ICC of biases in favour of the Indian cricket team in the ongoing cricket World Cup. This was after India pulled off a sensational 302-run victory against Sri Lanka last week.
Batting first, India had 357-8 in 50 overs. However, Mohammed Shami’s lethal bowling meant that Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 55 runs. Shami finished with second five-wicket haul in the ongoing World Cup, becoming the most successful India bowler in the history of the ODI World Cup.
Akram, who’s been analysing the World Cup matches on a Pakistani TV channel was asked if he agreed with former Pakistani cricketer Hasan Raza, who had accused the ICC of providing different cricket balls to the Indian cricket team. These balls, according to him, swung more and helped Indian bowlers cause problems to opposite teams.
Reacting to Raza’s assertion, Akram said, “I have been reading about it from last couple of days. I want to have the same things these guys are having… sounds like fun because their mind is not there.”
Akram, who remains the most successful ODI bowler in history, didn’t stop here as he continued, “You are getting yourself insulted but why are you insulting us in front of the whole world?”
Akram explained how the field umpires bring a box with 12 cricket balls and give the captain, who’s won the toss, to select two balls according to his choice. The remaining balls, Akram added, are then taken to the dressing room of the opposite team where their captain is asked to choose two balls of their choice before handing over the box to the TV umpire.
Akram said that ‘there are umpires, referees and many more in stadium and secondary how can technology or anything make the ball swing more or less.’
You can watch Akram’s outbursts here;
Legendary pacer @wasimakramlive comments on #HasanRaza‘s statement on Indian bowlers, being given different balls to bowl.#ASportsHD #ARYZAP #CWC23 #ThePavilion #ShoaibMalik #MoinKhan #FakhreAlam #MisbahulHaq #AskThePavilion pic.twitter.com/uJ9YU9V745
— ASports (@asportstvpk) November 3, 2023