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.
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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.”
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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.
ICC Might Give Different Ball to Indian Bowlers thats why they are Getting Seam and Swing More Than Others.Ex Test Cricketer Hasan Raza.#CWC23 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/7KCQoaz0Qs— Hasnain Liaquat (@iHasnainLiaquat) November 2, 2023
In a nutshell, Raza, who played seven Tests and 16 ODIs for Pakistan between 1996-2005, alleges that there is a nexus between the ICC, BCCI and the Umpire who provide the balls and that the Indian bowlers are given some unique balls helping them extract an insane amount of seam and swing.
Raza does not stop there, in fact, he started his conversation by alleging that a few of the DRS decisions have gone India’s way or have favoured India heavily and this is something that has to be investigated.
Without giving any logical explanation or instances of such, Raza goes on and on with his speculative theories and dubious claims. The anchor chimes in saying how can on a pitch where every other bowler is looking ordinary, Indian bowlers can be extraordinary. He goes on to say that if Pakistan play India again, the captain should check the balls similar to how balls are checked in tape-ball cricket.
It is interesting to note that when he debuted for Pakistan in 1996 in Tests, Raza and Pakistan had claimed the record of him being the youngest cricketer to debut in international cricket aged 14 years and 227 days. This was later revealed to be a false claim and PCB had to withdraw the record claim. No wonder, Raza has all these conspiracy theories in his head.
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