Waqar Younis claims Virat Kohli influenced the ‘no-ball’ decision

Former India skipper Virat Kohli once again played a magnificent inning against Pakistan in a 20-20 World Cup game. Since playing his first game against the Green Brigade in 2012, he has been dismissed only once, i.e last year. Apart from that, the right-hander remained not out and saw his team over the line in 2012, 2014, 2016, and now in 2022. Meanwhile, his inning of 82 not out is surrounded by controversy.

Apparently, in the last over of the game, the 33-year-old hit a six against Mohammad Nawaz over the square leg. After hitting the shot, the Delhi player claimed waist high full toss from the bowler. After a short while, the square leg umpire signaled a no-ball. This proved to be decisive for the 2007 winners as they went on to win the game.

Umpire gave signaled the no-ball after Virat Kohl asked for it: Waqar Younis

After the game, former Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis claimed that Kohli ‘influenced the decision in his favor. The former claims that the umpire watched the ball sailing over the fence and after Kohli’s query, the umpire signaled no-ball. According to the rules as Younis says, the umpire should have immediately given the signal if it was a no-ball.

“When the ball is about waist-high, the square-leg umpire’s first reaction is that he takes his hand out, extends his right hand,” Younis said. “He is an experienced umpire. That’s his natural reaction. But if you look at the replays, (Erasmus) turns around to see the ball. Then after Virat Kohli asked for it…”

“I am not saying and I don’t want to say it’s a no-ball or not, I don’t want to get into that controversy. But the umpire should have called it there and then. It was Virat Kohli’s right to ask for the no-ball and he should do it. The square-leg umpire should have consulted the main umpire and they should have gone upstairs. That’s why the third umpire is sitting there. It should have been left to him – he could call it no-ball, six whatever.”