Former Pakistan cricketer Hasan Raza has raised eyebrows by alleging that the Indian cricket team is benefiting from special treatment with unique cricket balls supplied by the BCCI and ICC during the ongoing World Cup 2023. Raza’s claims come in the wake of India’s spectacular pace trio, comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, who dominated Sri Lanka in their recent match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Shami, Siraj, and Bumrah combined to take a remarkable 9 out of 10 wickets, limiting Sri Lanka to a mere 55 runs in their pursuit of a daunting 359. This extraordinary performance has further solidified India’s reputation for having one of the most formidable pace attacks in the world.
While cricket enthusiasts around the globe have showered accolades on Shami, Siraj, and Bumrah, Hasan Raza has taken a different stance. The former Pakistan cricketer, known for his controversial remarks, has accused the Indian team of foul play. Raza contends that special cricket balls are being provided to India by the ICC and BCCI, which has raised questions about the integrity of the game.
Raza voiced his concerns, stating, “We are seeing that when they are batting, they bat really well and suddenly the ball starts doing things when India bowls. There have been 7-8 close DRS calls that have gone in their favor. The way Siraj and Shami were swinging the ball, it seemed like the ICC or the BCCI were giving them different and suspicious balls in the second innings. There needs to be an inspection done on the ball. There could also be an extra layer of coating on the ball for swing.”
He went on to highlight the remarkable hardness of the ball, even after numerous overs, which allowed Shami to claim 5 wickets for just 18 runs and Siraj to take 3. Raza’s concerns are centered around the unusual movement of the ball, suggesting that the balls used earlier in the match behave differently.
It’s important to note that Hasan Raza has faced controversies in the past, most notably in 2018 when he was caught on camera in an alleged spot-fixing sting. Despite this, his cricketing career was marked by notable achievements, including being the youngest player to debut in Test cricket for Pakistan in 1996.
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