Cricket

The ongoing unofficial Test series between India A and Australia A has been marred by a series of ball-tampering controversies. In the first Test in Mackay, India A players were accused of altering the condition of the ball, leading to its replacement overnight. The incident sparked a heated exchange between the players and umpire Shawn Craig, with former Australia captain David Warner also questioning the decision.Cricket Australia (CA) later dismissed the allegations against India A, stating that the ball was changed due to deterioration. However, in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India A players were once again involved in a ball-related incident.In a viral video, the players can be seen having a conversation with the umpire, pointing out a substance on the ball. Commentators suggested that the substance could be either mud or white paint. Pacer Prasidh Krishna appeared particularly agitated during the discussion.The incident occurred as India A struggled in their second innings, losing five wickets for just 25 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy were the only batsmen to offer any resistance, with India A trailing by 11 runs at the end of day two.The ball-tampering allegations have cast a shadow over the series, which is intended to provide opportunities for players to impress ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The incidents have raised questions about the integrity of the game and the need for stricter measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The recent India A vs Australia A warm-up match has been marred by allegations of ball tampering against the visiting team. During the match, the umpires informed India A players that the ball had been changed due to tampering. Umpire Shawn Craig brought the development to Indian players' notice during the first unofficial Test.In a statement, Cricket Australia said that the ball had to be changed "due to deterioration", while both the managers and the captains were informed of the decision before the start of the day's play.Now, Fox Cricket has released a video of the exact stump mic conversation. Here's how it went:Shawn Craig: When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion. Let's play. This is not a discussion.Ishan Kishan: So we are going to play with this ball?Craig: You're playing with that ball.Ishan: That's a very stupid decision.Craig: Excuse me. You will be on report for dissent. That is inappropriate behaviour. Because of your actions we changed the ball.Kishan: Thank you!Following that, a discussion took place in the Fox Cricket panel. The panel agreed that the way the Indian players showed dissent proved the 'might and force of India' in world cricket. David Warner's wife, Candice, was also part of the discussion. She said, "It just goes to show the power of India and how strong they are. A lot of these umpires want to be part of the IPL."One of the panelists then added: “India run the game. Every dollar that is raised in cricket, is raised by India. This change over the last few decades has been extraordinary.”According to a report in The Indian Express, a player, requesting anonymity, denied tampering allegations, suggesting a "nail from the sideboards may have brushed the ball."According to Cricket Australia's code of conduct, players involved in the ball tampering incident could be handed bans if the team is found to have intentionally changed the condition of the ball."Any action(s) likely to alter the condition of the ball which are not specifically permitted under Law 41.3.2 may be regarded as unfair," Cricket Australia's code of conduct reads.After the controversy spiralled up, Cricket Australia issued a statement saying, the ball change happened "due to deterioration."

The India vs Australia rivalry is one of the most intense in cricket, and the upcoming series is already heating up. India A, currently touring Australia, has been accused of ball tampering during a practice match against Australia A.Ahead of the start of play on Sunday, match officials informed India A players that the ball had been changed due to tampering. Umpire Shawn Craig told the Indian players, "When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion, let's play."India A's wicket-keeper batter for the match, Ishan Kishan, was furious at the umpire's call, calling it a "stupid decision."Cricket Australia released a statement saying that the ball had to be changed "due to deterioration," and that both managers and captains were informed of the decision before the start of play.However, an anonymous India A player has denied the tampering allegations, suggesting that a "nail from the sideboards may have brushed the ball."According to Cricket Australia's code of conduct, players involved in ball tampering could face bans if the team is found to have intentionally changed the condition of the ball."Any action(s) likely to alter the condition of the ball which are not specifically permitted under Law 41.3.2 may be regarded as unfair," the code of conduct states.Cricket Australia has since issued a statement saying that the ball change happened "due to deterioration."The incident has sparked controversy, with some accusing India A of cheating. However, the team has denied the allegations, and Cricket Australia has stated that the ball change was due to natural wear and tear.

Former Australian wicket-keeper Ian Healy has raised suspicions about the India A team's involvement in the controversial ball change incident during their four-day match against Australia A. Healy believes that India A may have been attempting to manipulate the ball for reverse swing, which could have given them an advantage in the match.The incident occurred on day four of the match when umpires changed the ball due to a scratch. India A wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan expressed his disapproval of the decision, leading to a warning from the umpire. However, Cricket Australia later stated that the ball was changed due to deterioration and no action would be taken.Healy, however, remains skeptical. He believes that India A's complaints about the ball change and their subsequent refusal to attend a post-match press conference are suspicious. He also criticized India A's decision to skip an intra-squad game at the WACA in Perth and instead opt for center wicket stimulation practice.Healy believes that Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney should open the batting for Australia in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India. McSweeney scored 39 and 88 not out in the seven-wicket win over India A and has been in impressive form.Healy also expressed concern about India's preparation for the Test series, especially after their 3-0 defeat to New Zealand at home. He believes that India should have played more competitive matches in the lead-up to the series.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has vehemently condemned Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami's derogatory remarks about Inzamam-ul-Haq's allegations of reverse swing manipulation. Ali, in a YouTube video, expressed his disapproval of Shami's choice of words, labeling them as "indecent" and disrespectful.Ali emphasized the importance of respecting senior players, stating that Shami's comments were unbecoming of a professional cricketer. He urged Shami to exercise caution in his public statements, particularly when addressing respected figures like Inzamam."When Shami talks about Inzi bhai and calls him a cartoon, that's not right. Inzamam has led this country and captained it. Shami, your choice of words isn't good. We praise your bowling, but you should have chosen your words better. You didn't pick your words well, and that hurt me," Ali said.Ali's criticism stems from Shami's previous dismissal of Inzamam's claims that Team India was involved in ball-tampering during the T20 World Cup. Shami had labeled such allegations as "cartoonish" and accused Inzamam of attempting to deceive the public.Ali believes that Shami's response was disrespectful and undermined the dignity of cricketing discourse. He stressed that senior players deserve respect and that Shami's comments were inappropriate."Be a bit more careful, you can't just say anything anywhere. Whatever question is asked, you keep giving 'behuda' (indecent) answers. I'm using the right word, 'behuda (indecent)'. Aapne behuda zabaan use kiya hai (You've used indecent language). Your elders probably never taught you this," Ali said.Ali's comments highlight the importance of maintaining a respectful and professional tone in cricketing discussions. He believes that Shami's remarks were uncalled for and that they have damaged the reputation of the sport.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has vehemently refuted allegations of ball tampering by Team India during the T20 World Cup, as well as similar accusations made by former Pakistan players during the ODI World Cup.Shami dismissed the claims as baseless and accused Pakistan of being perpetually unhappy with India's success. He challenged the accusers to prove their allegations by allowing him to open the ball and demonstrate the absence of any tampering devices."Pakistanis were never happy with us and will never be," Shami said. "Someone said we are being given a different ball, someone said there is a chip in the ball. I have previously mentioned that if I ever get an opportunity or a platform in the future, I would definitely like to open the ball and show whether there is any device inside or not."Shami also criticized former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for his allegations that India's bowlers were using a modified ball with an embedded chip. He dismissed Inzamam's claims as "cartoonish" and accused him of misleading the public."The team that performs against them gets targeted there," Shami said. "Suppose I bowled with the device and pressed the button incorrectly. I intended to bowl an inswinger but it turned into an outswinger, resulting in a boundary. This kind of cartoonish behavior can happen elsewhere; these are just ways to fool the public."Shami pointed out that India's bowlers have a proven track record of reverse swing, and that Arshdeep Singh's ability to reverse the ball in the 15th over of the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan was a testament to their skill."If it was Pakistani bowlers (reverse swinging the ball) this would have been a big issue," Shami said. "We know reverse swing very well and if Arshdeep can come in the 15th over and start reversing the ball, it means some serious work had been done before."Shami also revealed that Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma are his best friends within the Indian cricket team, who have supported him during his recent ankle injury.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has ignited a fresh controversy by accusing the Indian cricket team of ball tampering during their T20 World Cup 'Super 8s' match against Australia. Inzamam's allegations stem from the unusual reverse swing extracted by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was brought back for his second spell in the 16th over.Reverse swing typically occurs with an older ball, and Inzamam questioned how the Indian bowlers managed to achieve it with a ball that remains relatively new for the duration of an innings in a T20 game. "When Arshdeep Singh was bowling the 15th over (16th), he was getting reverse swing. With a (relatively) new ball, is it too early to get reverse swing? Was the ball ready for reverse swing by the 12th or 13th over? Because when he came to bowl, the ball started reversing. Umpires ko aanhein khuli rakhni chahiye (the umpires should keep their eyes open)," Inzamam said while talking on a Pakistani TV channel.Inzamam's claims have sparked a debate on the legality of India's bowling tactics. Reverse swing is a legitimate technique in cricket, but it requires the ball to be altered in some way, such as by scuffing it on the ground or applying a foreign substance. If the umpires believe that the ball has been tampered with, they can penalize the bowling team.The Indian team has denied any wrongdoing, and captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed Inzamam's allegations as "baseless." However, the controversy has cast a shadow over India's impressive performance in the tournament so far.India posted a formidable total of 205-5 in their 20 overs, thanks to captain Rohit Sharma's blistering 92 off 41 balls, and Suryakumar Yadav's rapid 31. Contributions from Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27 not out) further bolstered India's innings. Australia's bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc (2-45) and Marcus Stoinis (2-52), struggled to contain the Indian batsmen on a batting-friendly pitch.Chasing 206, Australia managed 181-7 in their 20 overs. Travis Head top-scored with 76. However, the Indian bowlers, particularly Arshdeep, who took 3-37, and Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed 2-24, kept the Australian batsmen in check. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel also chipped in with crucial wickets, ensuring India maintained their grip on the match.With a strong all-round performance, India once again showcased their potential as tournament favourites and secured a place in the semi-finals, where they will take on defending champions England on Thursday at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

Former Australian cricket captains Michael Clarke and Aaron Finch have expressed concerns over the timing of David Warner's recent remarks regarding the impact of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Warner, who is nearing the end of his international career, stated that he has faced the brunt of criticism since the incident.Clarke believes that Warner's comments are fair but poorly timed. He argues that other players, such as Cameron Bancroft, have also faced significant consequences. Clarke suggests that Warner's remarks may have been more appropriate after the World Cup rather than during the tournament.Finch echoed Clarke's sentiments, expressing surprise at Warner's timing. He believes that Warner's comments could potentially distract the team during a crucial stage of the competition.Warner's remarks have sparked a debate about the lasting impact of the ball-tampering scandal. Clarke acknowledges that the incident will always be part of Warner's legacy, but he believes that his brilliance as a cricketer will ultimately overshadow it.Warner's close friend, Usman Khawaja, has previously suggested that some of Warner's behavior before the ban was influenced by team instructions. Khawaja believes that Warner has changed his approach since his return to the team in 2019.Despite the controversy surrounding his comments, Warner remains a key player for Australia in the T20 World Cup. If the team wins the tournament, he could become one of only four players to have played in three finals across all three formats.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has hit a major roadblock after star pacer Haris Rauf was accused of ball tampering during their humiliating defeat against the United States. The allegation, made by former South African pacer Rusty Theron, has cast a dark shadow over Pakistan's hopes of salvaging their tournament.Theron, who is now a member of the USA national cricket team, took to social media to tag the International Cricket Council (ICC) and accuse Rauf of scratching the ball with his nails. He claimed that Rauf was attempting to reverse the ball and gain an unfair advantage over the American batters."Are we just going to pretend Pakistan aren't scratching the hell out of this freshly changed ball? Reversing the ball that's just been changed 2 overs ago? You can literally see Harris Rauf running his thumbnail over the ball at the top of his mark," Theron wrote on X (formerly Twitter).The accusation has not yet been officially lodged by the USA team, but it remains a serious allegation. If proven true, it could result in severe sanctions for Rauf and the Pakistan team.Pakistan's performance against the USA was dismal, with Rauf conceding 37 runs in four overs and taking only one wicket. Captain Babar Azam criticized his bowlers for failing to deliver, despite defending a mediocre total of 159."We are better than that in bowling, we were not able to take wickets in the first six overs. In the middle overs, your spinner is not taking wickets then pressure is on us. After 10 overs, we did come back but I think the way they finished game in the Super Over, the credit goes to the US team," Babar said in the post-match press conference.Pakistan's next match is against arch-rivals India, a crucial encounter that could determine their fate in the tournament. However, the ball-tampering allegation has cast a pall over their preparations and raised questions about the integrity of the team.