An English tabloid created a sensation yesterday by releasing screen grabs of Virat Kohli from the first Test against England while suggesting that his actions were similar to that of Faf du Plessis. As the day progressed, it became clear that the evidence produced by the tabloid would amount to nothing and the incident involving the Indian skipper would not be investigated.
But across the border, former Pakistani cricketers and board members are not pleased one bit.
Former Pakistani leg-spinner, Abdul Qadir spoke to a local news channel and called for a ban on the Indian skipper. “He should also be fined,” he said.
“When it comes to banning a Pakistani player on bowling action or else than the ICC steps in promptly and puts a ban. But in the case of an Indian player, it backs out,” said Qadir. He also urged all the boards to collectively appeal to the ICC while urging them to take action.
Abdul Qadir was Pakistan’s premier leg-skipper through the eighties. He picked 236 wickets from 67 Tests and played over a hundred ODIs in a career spanning over a decade.
Meanwhile, Haroon Rasheed, former cricketer and chief selector joined the rhetoric as well.
“According to the ICC rules action against a player is only taken if he is reported by the referee or field umpire,” he observed while adding that the umpires at Rajkot had failed to note and report Kohli’s actions.
Former PCB Chairman Khalid Mahmood echoed Abdul Qadir’s sentiments. “We don’t see the application of same rule for India. The ICC always treats India differently. Such an attitude is harmful to the game of cricket,” he said.
The voices of dissent emerging from Pakistan clearly suggest that they’re unhappy with what they see as preferential treatment being meted out by the ICC to India. A common claim that was voiced indicated that the rules are the same for all countries.
Mahmood went a step further while stating that umpires ought to be banned as well in addition to the Indian skipper.
Incidentally, Pakistan’s Waqar Younis was the first cricketer to be banned by the ICC for ball-tampering during the tour to Sri Lanka in 2000. He had then received a one-match and was fined 50% of his match fee.
Faf du Plessis was found guilty by the ICC for using mint to shine the ball during the Hobart Test and was fined 100% of his match fee.
Also read: All the latest in world cricket on Sportskeeda Cricket.
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