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- Published: November 16, 2023 16:46
New Delhi: The high-stakes battle between India and New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium on Wednesday saw the two sides engaged in a brisk battle, for sealing a berth for themselves in the World Cup final. The match started on a high note and also culminated with good chase by the Black Caps.
However, a former Pakistan cricketer Sikander Bakht made weird allegations about the toss that took place between Rohit & Kiwi captain. He brought out a conspiracy theory, while speaking to a new channel, and said that Rohit Sharma’s coin-tossing technique could have secret motives.
Toss before the match is a standard practice but according to Sikander Bakht claimed that there was to more than what meets the eye.
The former Pakistan cricketer, with an aim to stir the cricketing pot, though said that it was his mischievous side to see some ‘aberration’ in the way Indian skipper tossed but he could done this to get undue advantage.
The bizarre comments by former Pak pacer raised the hackles of many cricket lovers as they took to X and excoriated the Pakistani cricketer for giving baseless spin to match toss.
Speaking to a Pak channel, the cricketer said, “Can I give you a conspiracy theory? At the time of the toss, Rohit Sharma throws the coin far from the range of any opposition captain. Thus, the opposition captain cannot go and check about the call.”
Very strange the way Rohit Sharma throw the coin at toss, far away, don’t let other Captains to see, compare to other Captains in the WC , any reason?? @BCCI @TheRealPCB @CricketAus @CricketSouthAfrica #sikanderbakht #WorldCup23 #IndiaVsNewZealand @ImRo45 @ICC pic.twitter.com/KxhR2QyUZm
— Sikander Bakht (@Sikanderbakhts) November 15, 2023
The former Pak cricketer with this statement implied that Rohit deliberately tossed the coin at a distance so that rival captain couldn’t confirm the outcome of it, thus helping India manipulate the game the way it wants.
Bakht’s comments after India’s victory over New Zealand has triggered series of reactions on social media, with most of them describing his claims as ‘foolish & illogical’.
In the semi-final match, India chose to bat first and put up a massive total of close to 400 runs on back of formidable batting by Kohli, Shreyas Aiyar & skipper Rohit Sharma. New Zealand mounted a steady chase of the big total but lost out the game by 70 runs.
‘Embarrassed’ Wasim Akram tears into ex-Pak pacer
The over-the-top allegations by former Pakistani pacer not only left the cricketing fraternity in disbelief but also didn’t find support within its own country’s veterans.
Wasim Akram, when asked about Sikander Bakht’s charges of ‘toss fixing’, slammed him for leveling baseless charges.
He said that he felt embarrassed when cricketers from his country make such baseless charges to ‘save their skin’ from harsh criticism after big debacles.
“Who says ki coin ne kahan land karana hai? Yeh kisne kaha ki coin wahan par fenkna hai? Woh toh sponsorship ke liye hai.. Kahin bhi chala jaaye, ,” Akram said at the Pavilion show of A Sports channel of Pakistan.
