Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed slammed hard the New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor who seemed unhappy with Pakistan off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez’s bowling action and reported to the on-field umpires by intimating the bowling action.
The 38-year-old Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has already suffered several bans due to his illegal bowling actions. Recently, he was cleared to bow again after modifying his bowling action. But this time the 34-year-old right-handed Kiwi batsman Ross Taylor has raised the question on his bowling action.
That incident happened during the first ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand at Abu Dhabi on last Wednesday (November 7), while Hafeez just completed his first over of the match. At the end of that over, Taylor made a chucking gesture on Hafeez’s bowling action to bring it on umpires’ attention.
Soon, furious Sarfraz went to the umpires where he had some hot talks with them. However, it didn’t put any effect in the game as Hafeez bowled five more overs and he had a bowling figure of 6-0-23-0.
So @RossLTaylor complaining about Hafeez bowling action ?? It looks Taylor is not happy with @MHafeez22 action
NOTE: Hafeez was suspended three time by ICC in 2014, 2015 and 2017
Courtesy @PTVSp0rts @ICC #PAKvNZ #Hafeez #RossTaylor #ICC pic.twitter.com/hrX6U59caB
— Sultan Mehmood Khan (@smk_77) November 7, 2018
But later, in the post-match press conference, Sarfraz lashed out on the former New Zealand skipper’s gesture.
The Pakistan captain said, “I will say that Taylor’s action was not correct. It’s not his job to give (the) action which was shown on TV. It was disgraceful, for me.
“His job is to do batting and if he concentrates on that, it’s better. I complained to umpires that his action did not come under sportsmanship. Ross is a professional cricketer and he should not have done that. He did it two or three times – it’s (the) umpires’ job. Hafeez’s action has no problem and (Taylor) was trying to create an issue without a reason.”
Taylor’s 80 off 112 balls helped New Zealand to score 266/9 at the end of 50 overs and in reply, Pakistan was bundled out for just 219 runs in 47.2 overs, where the Kiwi pacer Trent Boult claimed an ODI hat-trick.
At the end of the match, the Player of the Match award winner Boult was asked about their concern on Hafeez’s bowling action and Boult quoted, “Not that I know of, I was not really watching and then I had a job to do with the ball.”
