"After Virat Kohli Requested It..." Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Pakistani Veterans, question the umpiring process in the no-ball controversy

• Image Credit: Internet

• Oct 24, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

Digital Desk: The
India-Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 encounter in Melbourne on Sunday was one of
the best cricket matches ever played between the two teams. The game came down
to the wire, with India needing 16 runs off the final six balls. Though it
appeared that Pakistan would win the match, a no-ball from Mohammad Nawaz got
India back into the game. The no-ball call, however, was not without
controversy, as there was widespread speculation on social media that the
umpire made the call under duress from Virat Kohli.

On the A Sports
panel, Pakistani cricket stars Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Malik
discussed the hot topic and suggested that the call should have been submitted
to the third umpire.

"The ball
appeared to sink, but it's all to play for. To the naked eye, it did not appear
to be a no-ball, but in slow motion, it appears to have dipped... Any batsman
will turn and request a no-ball. It isn't his [Kohli's] fault. It's such a
massive game. You have the necessary technology. Use it. Why aggravate things
unnecessarily?" Akram, one of the discussion panelists, stated.

Waqar Younis also
joined the conversation and shared an unusual perspective. He felt that the
leg-umpire should have signaled a no-ball immediately rather than waiting for
Virat Kohli to request one. Waqar also stated that the leg umpire should have
conferred with the line umpire before referring the judgment to the third
umpire. Waqar refused to declare whether or not it was a no-ball but
emphasized the necessity of such rulings being sent upstairs.

"When the
ball is around waist-high, the square-leg umpire's first reaction is to extend
his right hand and withdraw his hand out." That is his natural response.
However, according to the replays, he (Marius Erasmus) turns around to see the
ball. Then, after Virat Kohli requested it...

"I'm not
saying, and don't want to say, whether it's a no-ball or not. I don't want to
go into that debate. But the umpire (square-leg umpire Marius Erasmus) should
have called it right away. Virat Kohli had the authority to request the
no-ball, and he should do so. The leg umpire should have consulted the main
umpire before proceeding upstairs. That is why the third umpire is seated. It
should have been left to him; he could have called it no-ball, six, or whatever
he wanted ".

Shoaib Malik, who was also on the panel, stated that a third
umpire consultation was required in this case. "When you have the option,
you should seek assistance from the third umpire, especially in such a crucial
match. Anyone can make a mistake, but they should have checked with the third
umpire first. It would have been preferable if the decision had been made after
viewing the replays."

The no-ball incident has sparked heated debate among fans and
former cricketers on social media.