"Mohammed Shami hid a ball in his pocket and bowled with his own ball" - Salman Butt makes sarcastic remark after IND vs NZ semi-final
Team India's senior pacer Mohammed Shami stole the show with a sensational seven-wicket haul in the side's 2023 World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Shami dented New Zealand's chances of chasing down the 398-run target by providing the Men in Blue with regular breakthroughs. Reacting to Shami's awe-inspiring performance, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt took a dig at ex-cricketer Hasan Raza.
Raza had earlier claimed that the Indian bowlers were being given a different ball in the 2023 World Cup, helping them generate more movement than other teams. In that context, Butt said in his latest YouTube video (16:56):
"Mohammed Shami hid a ball in his pocket and bowled with his own ball. Just ignore the people who say such things. It doesn't make any sense at all. If somebody is doing well, just stand up and applaud."
Mohammed Shami has now bagged three five-wicket hauls in the ongoing showpiece event. He has also become the first-ever bowler to claim four fifers in World Cups.
The seasoned campaigner's bowling exploits helped India bundle out New Zealand for 327 and clinch a 70-run victory to advance to the final.
"Never had a problem with the short-pitched delivery" - Salman Butt on Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer has produced tremendous results with the bat in the 2023 World Cup. He delivered a fantastic 105-run knock in just 70 deliveries in the semi-final clash against New Zealand.
Speaking about the batter's innings, Salman Butt suggested that Iyer doesn't struggle against short-pitched deliveries, contrary to people's beliefs. He said (11:07):
"Shreyas Iyer never had a problem with the short-pitched delivery. He was dismissed while playing the pull shot off Haris Rauf at the Aisa Cup. However, he had connected it very well. He scored just 14 runs in that match but looked very good. As the World Cup has progressed, he has taken his batting to the next level."
India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and Australia in the 2023 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19.