Online Reporter
SIKANDAR Raza’s insistence that he never tampered with the ball during Lahore Qalandars’ Pakistan Super League match against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday have been proved to be true.
The Chevrons star has been cleared with teammate Fakhar Zaman charged over the incident.
The controversy erupted ahead of the final over of the Kings’ run chase, when the on-field umpires gathered to analyse the ball and deemed that its condition was altered, which resulted in a five-run penalty for the Qalandars.
The penalty brought the equation down to just nine required off the final over instead of 14 for the Kings, and Abbas Afridi’s consecutive boundaries on the second and third deliveries steered the 2020 champions to an enthralling four-wicket victory.
Raza, who briefly engaged with on-field umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Afridi during the assessment of the ball’s condition, has swiftly denied altering its condition and insisted that the match officials could tell better about the controversy.
“I think I can only speak for myself. I mean, there was never an attempt from my side to change the condition of the ball or even to even try,” Raza said.
“As far as I remember, I was fielding at long-on where there was a bit of dew. We were requested not to try and dry the ball under the shirt, so I started doing it with the sleeves.
“Unless we see proof of which player they are asking about or accusing, it is a big decision.
“I have just gone to the changing room, and I can assure you that I have not been called in for an inquiry, so I think that means I’m safe.”
He further shared that the on-field umpires had instructed the Qalandars’ players to step aside during the process.
“I think the exact communication is yet to be conveyed. The umpires asked us to move aside as they were speaking with the other umpire.
“When we asked for reasons, they told us to step aside for the time being.
“The exact answer can be better provided by the umpires themselves, or the other umpire who had the walkie-talkie,” he added. – geosupertv
Londile Moyo