“Pleasure to be back in India umpiring” - Billy Bowden & Suresh Raina recreate iconic moment from IND vs PAK 2012-13 series
Former international umpire Billy Bowden took to Instagram to share a picture with Suresh Raina during their participation in the Legends League Cricket 2024. The duo recreated their iconic moment, which saw Raina imitating Bowden's crooked finger gesture during the bilateral series against Pakistan in December 2012.
In the first ODI game between India and Pakistan in Chennai, the home team posted 227, with MS Dhoni scoring a century. In response, Younis Khan and Nasir Jamshed were steering the visitors well and had already stitched together a 112-run stand.
However, the 31st over witnessed Younis hitting Ashok Dinda's low full-toss straight to Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed a low-catch.
Umpire Bowden took help from the third umpire, who eventually confirmed that the catch was taken cleanly by Ashwin. Raina, who was standing behind Bowden, playfully replicated the latter's gesture to signal Younis out. In the end, Pakistan chased down the score in the penultimate over.
Below is the clip of Raina imitating Bowden's gesture:
On Sunday, Billy Bowden shared a picture along with Suresh Raina recreating their 'crooked finger' gesture. Bowden hailed Raina as a legend and also expressed happiness in making his umpiring comeback in India.
Here's what he captioned the post:
"Oh yes, Suresh Raina. What a cricketer, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. It is a pleasure to be back in India umpiring, this Indian cricket legend."
Billy Bowden officiated in 104 ODIs, 259 ODIs and 32 T20Is from 1995 to 2016. However, he still serves as an umpire in first-class cricket in New Zealand. Last year, he became the first umpire from the country to officiate 200 first-class games.
Suresh Raina's impressive knocks goes in vain for Toyam Hyderabad in Legends League Cricket 2024
Suresh Raina is currently captaining the Toyam Hyderabad team in the Legends League Cricket 2024. In the first game, Raina contributed only 4, as they lost by one run against the India Capitals.
The second game on Sunday witnessed them clashing against the Gujarat Greats at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur. Raina led from the front to slam 44 off 27 and guide his side to a formidable score of 172. However, Morne Van Wyk (115* off 69) was sensational in helping the Greats to seal the chase in the last over.
Raina and company will be meeting the Greats in the reverse fixture on September 28 at the Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.