Wasim Akram has rejected the idea that Rohit Sharma engaged in 'toss-fixing' after India's triumph over New Zealand in the ODI World Cup semi-final, an accusation put forth by former Pakistan cricketer Sikandar Bakht.
Bakht raised eyebrows with his allegations against the Indian skipper. According to Bakht, Sharma allegedly displayed suspicious behaviour by tossing the coin far from the opposing captain Kane Williamson during the toss. Bakht insinuated that this tactic prevents the opposing captain from properly verifying the toss result, suggesting a potential strategy to influence outcomes in favour of the Indian team.
These claims surfaced after India's decisive victory over New Zealand in the semi-final in Mumbai, where they won the toss on a batting-friendly pitch, posting an imposing total of 397/4 and ultimately securing a 70-run victory.
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In response, Wasim Akram rebuffed Bakht's claims during an interview with A Sports, emphasising that there are no specific rules dictating where the coin must land and the placement of the mat is merely for sponsorship purposes. Akram expressed his embarrassment at such allegations coming to light.
"Who dictates where the coin should land? The mat is there for sponsorship reasons. I feel embarrassed," remarked Akram.
The 66-year-old former Pakistani fast bowler shared his conspiracy theory on a news channel show, hinting at collusion between Sharma, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to sway decisions in India's favour.
"Can I engage in mischief? I am posing a question: if we could show you what happens during the toss? When Rohit Sharma tosses, he throws the coin far away, and the opposing captain never goes to check whether he correctly called it," Bakht was quoted as saying.
Irfan Pathan, a former Indian all-rounder known for his straightforward opinions, also weighed in on the controversy. He dismissed Bakht's allegations as an attention-seeking ploy aimed at tarnishing Indian cricket's reputation. Pathan's response was, "It's called blame Indian cricket and get famous."
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