Former Pakistan cricketer Iqbal Qasim has expressed his unhappiness on the negative remarks of West Indian commentator Michael Holding.
The former fast bowler challenged the legality of ‘doosra,’ saying it was impossible for an off-spinner to bowl the delivery within the 15-degree limit allowed by the International Cricket Council.
The Doosra, also known as ‘the other one’ or ‘the wrong ‘un,’ is a ball bowled by an off-spinner which instead of turning in to a right-handed batsman, goes the other way.
Holding’s comments came during the second One Day International between Pakistan and hosts West Indies. The Caribbean Kings have been unable to cope up with the quality spin attack of the Men in Green so far.
Iqbal said, “Such a comment, which is directed at a team, is not prudent from a commentator like Holding... Pointing fingers only at the Pakistani bowlers is not correct. Doosra is no more the secret weapon of Pakistani bowlers, as others are also bowling it with great effect.”
The former spinner further added, “There are cameras, umpires and referees closely observing matches, so if doosra had been an illegal delivery then, they must have had complained to ICC. However nothing has happened yet and hence, doosra is a legal delivery.”
Iqbal also advised Holding to challenge the legality of the delivery with the ICC, which can conduct laboratory tests of all the bowlers worldwide, revealing the reality.
This is not the first time when the legality of the ‘doosra’ has been questioned. Star Sri Lankan off-spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan came under the scanner once he mastered the art of bowling ‘the other one.’ His action was scrutinised by the ICC and he was later cleared to bowl after that. However, former Australian umpire Darrell Hair still believes that the highest wicket-taker in both Tests and One Day International cricket should have been barred from bowling the ‘doosra.’
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh’s action was also analysed by the ICC before he was allowed to bowl ‘the wrong ‘un’. There were a couple of bowlers like South Africa’s Johan Botha and West Indian Shane Shillingford, who were banned from bowling the ‘doosra.’
However, Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who was the inventor of the artistic delivery was the only bowler to bowl ‘the wrong ‘un’ without any issues. He had mastered the art perfectly and no umpire was able to question the legality of his action during his career.
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