Ravi Shastri slams former Pakistan cricketer's controversial comments on Indian bowling

Amid ODI World Cup 2023, controversy stirred as former Pakistani cricketer Hasan Raza levelled serious allegations against the Indian cricket team's bowling performance. Raza asserted that the Indian pacers were benefiting from preferential treatment, receiving specially crafted cricket balls either from the International Cricket Board or the Indian Cricket Board. His allegations implied that these balls were designed to improve the bowlers' capacity to generate swing and seam, even on pitches traditionally deemed favourable for batting.

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Raza's remarks surfaced following India's impressive performance against Sri Lanka, securing a commanding 302-run victory. The standout display by Indian bowlers, especially Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, drew attention. Shami's exceptional performance, claiming five wickets, elevated him to India's all-time highest wicket-taker in ODI World Cups, with 45 scalps in just 14 matches. This achievement surpassed the records of former Indian bowlers Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath.

However, Raza's assertions faced skepticism and criticism from various cricketing personalities, notably Wasim Akram, another former Pakistani cricketer and one of the finest fast bowlers in the sport's history. Akram swiftly dismissed Raza's claims as unfounded and clarified the standard process involved in selecting cricket balls ahead of a match.

Ravi Shastri slammed Hasan Raza on a podcast that featured Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan

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During the Club Prairie Fire podcast featuring Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan, Ravi Shastri dismissed Raza's statements as unfounded. Shastri asserted that the former Pakistani cricketer's claims lacked merit and went on to suggest that Raza might make similar allegations against players like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, insinuating that they were also provided with some form of "technology" to aid them in matches.

"Good job. Good job he is there. Let him stay there. What is talking about is a whole load of cock and bull. Next, he will come and say when Jadeja bowls it goes at certain revolutions and when Kuldeep comes on the other side, there's another piece of technology on the other side of the ball that makes the ball go the other way. It's all crap," said Shastri.