Former Pakistan international cricketer Hasan Raza has claimed that India are being given a different ball which has helped them bowl better than other teams during the 2023 World Cup.

Speaking on a Pakistani news channel after India’s annihilation of Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2, Raza, who played seven Tests and 16 ODIs for Pakistan, questioned the quality of balls given to the Indian bowlers.

The anchor asked Raza his thoughts on whether India are being given balls of a different quality given how much movement they have been able to extract in the ongoing World Cup. To this, Raza replied, “Looking at [Mohammed] Shami and [Mohammed] Siraj bowl, it reminds of the likes of Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini, how they bowled when we used to go play in South Africa.

“The ball used to be shiny on one side and rough on the other, allowing it reverse, seam, and swing. But here I feel like the ball is getting changed mid-innings the way it is behaving. Whether it is the ICC that is providing the balls, or the umpires panel, or the BCCI, there should be an inspection on it. I think the balls should be checked.

Raza also talked about marginal DRS calls going India’s way at the World Cup: “We have also seen that some DRS decisions have gone in favour of India. There have been seven to eight DRS calls that have been close that have gone in India’s favour [at the World Cup].”

Elaborating further on his theory, Raza said that the balls which India are getting to bowl with might be coming with an extra layer of polish allowing them to swing and seam the ball more extravagantly compared to other teams.

“I know there are two new balls, yet, there are three slips in an [One Day] international match, the wicketkeeper KL Rahul is catching balls near his head. There seems to be some extra hardness on the ball, an extra layer of polish or coating, which I feel should be inspected,” said Raza.

When the anchor suggested that Pakistan should ask for the ball to be checked if they come up against India again in the tournament, Raza agreed, adding that the way batters at this level are falling to the Indian seam attack is raising suspicions in his mind.

“They should check the ball and there should be a debate on it. Shami took five for 18, Siraj took 3 wickets in 3 overs [against Sri Lanka]. I can’t figure out how top level international batters are getting out playing across the line.

“Even in the New Zealand match [against India]. It’s as if the batters get blinded when they see a full ball on the stumps. So that is creating a lot of questions and doubts in my mind. I think these things should be noted.”

These comments come on the back of a world class performance by the India seam attack against Sri Lanka in Mumbai where they skittled out the opposition for just 55 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj shared nine wickets in the win. Shami, in particular, has been devastating, having picked 14 wickets in just three matches in this World Cup so far.

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