Picture Credit: Twitter
The ODI World Cup 2023 might have ended, but it was a tough pill to swallow for the Men in Blue and its fans. After ten wins on the trot, the Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a defeat in the final match of the flagship tournament against strong looking Australian side at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
While this loss is going down slow in the minds of Indian players and fans as well, but Indian pacer, Mohammad Shami, who also finished as the highest wicket-taker in the CWC 2023 once again spoke over the ball controversy. While talking for an athleisure brand Puma, Shami reiterated on the ball controversy.
Hitting out at the comments made by former Pakistan players, including ex-batter Hasan Raza, Shami said, “I wasn’t playing at the start of the World Cup. When I did, I took five wickets, then four in the next match, then five again. Kuchh Pakistan players ko yeh baat hajam nahi ho rahi thi, mai kya karu (some of the Pakistan players couldn’t digest it, so what can I do in it) " .
“What they have in mind is that ‘we are the best’. Best toh who hota hai jo time pe perform kare (the one who performs on time is the best). But you are continuously creating controversy out of it, that they (Indian bowlers) are getting different colour ball, different company ball. Sudhar jao yaar,” the 33-year-old further added.
He also added that former Pakistan player, Wasim Akram had explained the same thing in an interview, that how the process of selecting a ball happens and which team gets the first preference to pick the ball.
Mohammad Shami finished scalping 24 wickets in the ODI World Cup 2024. He completed three five-wicket hauls in seven matches and became the fastest to complete 50 wickets in ODI World Cups. The 33-year-old also became the first bowler to take seven wickets in an ODI match for India, ending with the figures of 5/57 in 9.5 overs in first semifinal against New Zealand in CWC 2023.
