‘They had cut two frames…’ – Former Pakistan bowler alleges manipulation of footage to save Sachin Tendulkar during India vs Pakistan Semifinals game in World Cup 2011
Sachin Tendulkar and Ajmal (Source: Twitter)
Almost seven years later, the Pakistan cricket team will tour India to participate in the ODI World Cup this year. The last time the team came was in 2016 for the T20 World Cup, which was an unsuccessful campaign for both teams. Earlier, in 2011, when India faced Pakistan in the semifinals of the World Cup, the hosts thrashed their arch-rivals to make it to the finals.
More than a decade later, former Pakistan bowler Ajmal has once again spoken against the decision made by the third umpire to declare Sachin Tendulkar not out in the semifinal game. Notably, Tendulkar was LBW by Ian Gould in the 11th over of the match, but the batter immediately reviewed the judgement, and replays showed the ball pitched in line but missed the leg stump. There was a significant stir in Pakistan about the judgement, and Ajmal, the bowler, spoke out against it after the match.
“I don’t know how the television replays show my delivery turning towards the leg side because I had bowled an arm ball and it went straight,” Ajmal had said after reaching Lahore. 12 years later, Ajmal once again echoed the incident and said that it was manipulated. “We played in the 2011 World Cup; you must remember the incident with Sachin Tendulkar. The LBW decision that was overturned The controversy about it is still going on. It was out. Both the umpire and I knew it was out. They had cut two frames to make it look like the ball missed the stumps. Otherwise, it would’ve hit the stumps in the middle,” Ajmal said on the Nadir Ali Podcast.
India will face Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 15
In the upcoming World Cup, India will start their campaign against Australia on October 8. The team will then head to Delhi to face Afghanistan before making their way to the marquee game. India will face Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15 in their third game of the season. However, the participation of the Pakistan cricket team is still in jeopardy as their government has yet to give a NOC.
The Shehbaz Sharif government is looking to send a security delegation, including the Minister of Sports and the Minister Of Defence, to analyse the security arrangements at the venue. Pakistan is set to play their games at five venues, including Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. The team will face Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai in some crucial games.
