Former Pakistan cricket captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saleem Malik have accused Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh and the Indian team of manipulating the ball's condition during their T20 World Cup Super 9 match against Australia. Inzamam alleged that India might have tampered with the ball during the middle overs to facilitate reverse swing, which typically occurs later in the game. Both Inzamam and Malik criticised the umpires for not being vigilant enough, suggesting that certain teams, including India, receive preferential treatment.
"In the 15th over when Arshdeep Singh was bowling, we observed reverse swing. It's too early for a reverse swing with the new ball, indicating the ball may have been tampered with around the 12th or 13th over. The umpires need to be more alert," Inzamam commented during a discussion on 24 News.
"There is a perception that umpires overlook certain teams, and India is one of them. I remember being fined for raising a similar issue during a match against Pakistan," Malik added.
Inzamam also implied that the reaction would have been different if Pakistani bowlers were involved in a similar situation, stating, "If this had happened with Pakistani bowlers, there would have been a significant outcry."
Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh leads India in wickets during the current tournament, claiming 15 wickets in six games following his performance of 3 for 37 against Australia. He attributed his success to Jasprit Bumrah's ability to build pressure on batsmen, which allowed him to capitalise and take wickets.
These allegations have sparked controversy, with cricket enthusiasts and analysts debating the integrity of the game and the umpires' role in ensuring fairness during international matches.