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

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




    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.