"Tell the truth that people used to prepare the ball" - Aakash Chopra on Inzamam-ul-Haq questioning India's reverse swing in 2024 T20 World Cup
Aakash Chopra has questioned Inzamam-ul-Haq on whether he admitted that Pakistan bowlers used to prepare the ball illegitimately to make it reverse swing better. The former Pakistan skipper had urged the umpires to be vigilant when Arshdeep Singh was getting the ball to reverse swing around the 15th over in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
India bagged their second T20 World Cup trophy after beating South Africa by seven runs in the final in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. They made the most of the reverse swing available on dry West Indian pitches in day games from the Super 8 stage onwards.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra urged Inzamam to reveal the truth about the means Pakistan used to get reverse swing after the latter urged the umpires to be vigilant.
"Inzamam-ul-Haq sir actually said that the ball was reverse swinging and that it should be checked. The ball was reverse swinging in day games. It was happening for everyone, not only for us, because the matches were being played on extremely dry surfaces," he said (5:25).
"However, he asked how Arshdeep was swinging the ball more, it shouldn't happen and the umpire should check it. Rohit Sharma replied that people should open their minds and he felt bad about that as well. He said that they shouldn't be taught as they had started reverse swing. Tell the truth that people used to prepare the ball," the former India opener added.
Chopra noted that Mudassar Nazar had previously unmasked everyone by telling the entire world how the ball was prepared. He questioned whether Inzamam asking the umpires to be vigilant wasn't an admission of guilt.
"Did you dig your own grave?" - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Inzamam-ul-Haq acknowledged that the Pakistan players indulged in ball-tampering.
"Just think, did you dig your own grave? I feel you have done that because you said the umpires should be vigilant because something was being done to the ball, and it was being prepared, that it was being scratched on one side, or being shined using illegitimate means," he said via the aforementioned source.
"That's what you are trying to say because why else would the umpires need to keep their eyes on the ball. So you are admitting that when your good bowlers used to do it, the ball was being prepared, and to do that you would either be scratching the ball, applying something, or doing something else that escaped the umpire's eyes," the reputed commentator added.
Chopra noted that the Pakistan bowlers were renowned for their skill to get the ball to reverse late. However, he added that Inzamam's statement implies that skills do not matter if the ball is prepared properly.