Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag slammed a question asked by the media to Rohit Sharma, ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Guyana. After India’s win over Australia in the Super 8 stage, Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq had raised suspicion over possible ball tampering by India. The reason behind his doubt was that Arshdeep Singh was able to create reverse as early as the 15th over. While Rohit Sharma denied any wrongdoing, former India vice-captain Sehwag criticised such questions being asked to the players.

“It is not the job of a reporter to quote someone and ask others for their opinion,” said Sehwag, speaking on Cricbuzz.

“This is wrong. Do you not have a question of your own?” said Sehwag.

Sehwag said that such questions are of no help to the players, and are only useful in stirring controversies.

“You’re trying to create controversy. If I were there, I wouldn’t have replied at all,” said Sehwag.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma had completely denied any ball tampering from India, instead suggesting that it is important for critics to be “open-minded”.

“You are playing in the heat, the wicket is dry, the ball reverses automatically. It happens for all the teams. It’s important to open your mind,” said a disappointed Rohit, in response to the allegation by Inzamam.

India have been in tremendous form at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and are yet to lose a game. Supporters and fans would be hoping that the end result does not turn out like the 2023 ODI World Cup Final.

Rohit Sharma returned to his explosive best against Australia, smashing 92 off just 41 balls.

India take on England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, where rain is expected to be 90%. In the case of a washed out match, India will qualify for the final on June 29, by virtue of finishing higher in the Super 8.

South Africa are awaiting the winner of the India-England clash.

Indian cricket team fast bowler Arshdeep Singh celebrates after taking a wicket© AFP

Ahead of the India vs England T20 World Cup semi-final, a very strong accusation from Pakistan great Inzamam ul Haq went viral. On his target was Indian cricket team pace bowler Arshdeep Singh and the former Pakistan captain claimed that Arshdeep Singh was getting reverse swing due to some ‘serious work’ on the ball. Indirectly, he meant that Arshdeep was unfairly tampering the ball, which is a punishable offence by the ICC.

Speaking to a Pakistani news channel, Inzamam accused Arshdeep and the Indian side of working on the ball, which helped the lanky pacer generate a reverse swing in his second spell.

“When Arshdeep was bowling the 15th over, it was reverse swinging. Is that too early with the new ball? This means the ball was ready by the 12th-13th over, it was capable of reversing. It was reverse-swinging in the 15th. Umpires need to keep their eyes open,” Inzamam told the news channel.

Inzamam further stated that, “If Pakistan bowlers did this, there would have been hue and cry. We know how to reverse it really well. If Arshdeep can reverse it in the 15th, there’s been some serious work done on the ball.

“If Bumrah does it (you can understand), his action is like that. When others with a specific action or speed do it, it means the ball has been prepared in a special way,” added Inzamam.

Rohit was asked about Inzamam’s comment in the pre-match media interaction here and he dismissed it, advising the former batter to have an open mind.

“Abhi kya jawab du iska mein bhai (what answer should I give, brother). Wickets are so dry (here) as you are playing in a sunny weather. All teams are getting reverse (swing). Sometimes dimaag ko kholna zaroori hai (Need to open your mind). You need to understand what the conditions are. This is not Australia or England. That’s what I will say,” Rohit said, when asked to respond to Inzamam’s observation.

Inzamam ul haq “Dimag ko kholo Bhikhari”

ROHIT SHARMA

“IND vs ENG”#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/ZM2K1EVCVo

— Areeba Khan (@Areebakhan1325) June 26, 2024

India defeated 2021 T20 World Cup champions Australia by 24 runs in Gros Islet on Monday to set up a semifinal clash against England with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh grabbing three wickets to halt the Kangaroos’ charge in the chase of 205.

India scored 205 batting first and then restricted Australia to 181/7.

Australia were in the game and required 81 runs in eight overs with eight wickets in hand. But they lost the plot during Arshdeep’s second spell, which fetched him two wickets in the 16th and 18th overs.

With PTI inputs

Former Pakistan captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saleem Malik have accused India pacer Arshdeep Singh and the team of altering the conditions of the ball during their T20 World Cup Super 9 match against Australia. Inzamam said that India must have tampered the ball in the middle overs to help Arshdeep in getting reverse swing from the new ball. Inzamam and Malik also slammed the umpires for not staying alert to the situation, with the latter even suggesting that the officials do favour certain teams, adding that India are one of them.

Inzamam pointed out that getting reverse swing with the new ball is difficult, unless the condition is altered.

“When Arshdeep Singh was bowling the 15th over, there was reverse swing. With the new ball, it is too early. This means that the ball was tampered around the 12th or 13th over to get reverse swing. So, the umpires should keep their eyes open,” Inzamam said during a discussion on 24 News.

“There is a saying that the umpires keep their eyes closed for some teams, and India are one of them. I remeber getting fined for reporting a similar situation during a game against Pakistan,” Malik pointed out.

Inzamam also suggested that the umpires would have taken extremeif there was a Pakistan player in that situation.

“If this was the case with the Pakistan bowlers, there would have been a lot of discussion on the same. If Arshdeep’s ball is reversing in the 15th over, it is evident that something was done to the ball,” Inzamam added.

Two former Pakistan captain Saleem Malik and Inzmam ul haq accused Arshdeep Singha nd India of ball Tempering.

2023: @MdShami11 ke ball me Chip thi: Hasan Raza

2024: Arshdeep ke ball reverse ho raha hai mtlb ball pe serious kism ka kaam hua hai: Inzmam ul haq pic.twitter.com/YXmIuPatrd

— Varun Giri (@Varungiri0) June 25, 2024

Meanwhile, Arshdeep leads the wicket-taking charts for India in the ongoing tournament. With figures of 3 for 37, Arshdeep also climbed to the second spot in the tournament’s wicket-takers chart with 15 wickets in six games with Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi sitting on top with 16 wickets in seven games.

After the match, Arshdeep gave credit to Jasprit Bumrah for his brilliant bowling throughout the tournament.

“I guess a lot of credit goes to Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) because he puts a lot of pressure on the batters – he gives, what, three or four runs in an over – so batters are coming hard against me, and I just have to try and bowl my best ball and there are a lot of chances of getting wickets there,” he said.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq admitted that the team is on a decline.© AFP

Shaheen Afridi criticises by Inzamam-ul-Haq© X (Twitter)