Losers again? Pakistan cricketers want Virat Kohli fined for ball tampering!
Mumbai: After an English daily alleged that Virat Kohli was involved in ball-tampering during the first India versus England Test in Rajkot, former Pakistan cricketer Abdul Qadir has slammed the Indian captain and asked ICC to fine him.
Qadir, a former leg-spinner, also said that ICC has been biased when it comes to banning Indian cricketers.
“He (Virat Kohli) should be fined. If ICC doesn’t take any action against him, then all the member boards should urge it to take action against him. ICC should ensure that rules are same for everybody,” Qadir was quoted as saying during a TV channel, reported the Express Tribune.
“When it comes to a ban on a Pakistani player for bowling action, then ICC steps in promptly and puts a ban. But in case of an Indian player it has backed out,” Qadir added.
Qadir, meanwhile, was not the only Pakistani cricketer who wanted ICC to react strongly against India’s Test skipper.
Haroon Rasheed, ex-Pakistani cricketer and chief selector, drew how ICC has treated Faf du Plessis’ alleged ball-tampering issue differently to that of Kohli’s.
The South African stand-in Test skipper was fined by ICC after the footage of him using lollypop to shine the cricket ball during the second Australia versus South Africa Hobart Test emerged. While the Australian side did not file a report against du Plessis’ actions, ICC decided to fine the cricketer.
“According to the ICC rules action against a player is only taken if he is reported by the referee or field umpire,” said Rasheed.
Pakistan Cricket Board’s former chairman Khalid Mahmood has lashed out at cricket’s governing body.
“We don’t see application of the same rules for India. The ICC always treats India differently. Such an attitude is harmful for the game of cricket,” said Mahmood.
ICC regulations on the ball tampering state that a team can file a complaint about the rival side or a player within five days of the completion of the Test match.
"According to ICC’s 3.2.2.1, a Level 1 Offence or a Level 2 Offence that is alleged to have been committed at any time or place (whether on the field of play or otherwise), then the report must be lodged with the Match Referee (or, where, for logistical reasons, it is impractical to lodge with the Match Referee, the ICC’s Cricket Operations Department) within five (5) days of the commission of the alleged offence."
