‘Don’t teach us…’: Inzamam-ul-Haq Retorts After Rohit Sharma Urges Him to ‘Use Brain’ Amid Ball-Tampering Controversy
New Delhi: Former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq slammed Rohit Sharma back after the India skipper indirectly requested the Pakistan great to ‘use his brain’ in the wake of a bizarre ball-tampering allegation. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq expressed his astonishment at witnessing the ball reverse-swing as early as the 15th over during the Indian innings bowled by Arshdeep Singh against Australia. He suggested that some ‘serious work was done on the ball’ to achieve such an effect.
Rohit replied to Inzamam by explaining fine distinction of revere-swing under the sun light. In a surprising response, Inzamam pointed out that he just tried to give suggestions to the match officials about what was happening around them and urged the India captain, as the old adage goes, not to teach the teacher.
“We shall definitely use our brains but the first thing is that he (Rohit) admitted that it’s happening. So it means what we observed is correct. Secondly, Rohit does not need to tell us how reverse swing works, under how much sun, on what pitch; you don’t teach something to someone who actually taught it to the world. Tell him it’s not right to say these things,” Inzamam said on Pakistan’s 24 News HD, the same show where he first made those outrageous claims.
“I had only given suggestions to the umpires, that keep your eyes open since the ball was moving around in the 15th over, and I still maintain my stance. I would again say to them ‘Keep your eyes open’. What’s happening? If the umpires too use their brain, it will be better for everyone involved.”
Inzamam’s allegations, made after India’s 24-run victory over Australia in a T20 World Cup Super-Eight match, quickly spread like wildfire. He wasn’t alone in his accusations; Salim Malik, his fellow panelist and a former Pakistan cricketer with a controversial past, supported him.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag, who had numerous faceoffs against Inzamam-ul-Haq’s Pakistan in the 2000s, believed the reporter unnecessarily escalated the matter, stirring controversy. Sehwag added that if he were in Rohit’s position, he would have avoided making such a comment and would have put an end to the discussion immediately.