‘It was disgraceful’- Sarfraz Ahmed on Ross Taylor questioning Hafeez’s bowling action

After a humiliating whitewash in the T20I series, New Zealand made a stupendous comeback with a 47-run win in the first ODI against Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. However, during the match, a shambolic incident took place. During the Black Caps’ innings, senior batsman Ross Taylor questioned off-break bowler Mohammad Hafeez’s bowling action.

He gestured with a bent arm to mock the offie. Taylor’s actions didn’t go down well with Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed by any stretch of the imagination and he lashed out at the Kiwi for his unsportsmanlike behaviour on the cricket pitch. Sarfraz didn’t mince any words in saying that being a ‘professional cricket’, Taylor should’ve avoided it.

Ross Taylor should not have done that

“I will say that Ross Taylor’s action was not correct. It’s not his job to give action which was shown on TV, it was disgraceful for me. It’s not his job, his job is to do batting and if he concentrate on that it’s better. I complained to umpires that his action did not come under sportsmanship,” Sarfraz was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.

“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 he was trying to create an issue without a reason,” he added.

As far as illegal action is concerned, Hafeez has been reported more than three times in the last four years. Back in November 2017, he was suspended after which he was cleared to bowl this April after clearing the independent assessment. In the first ODI, Hafeez bowled six overs and conceded 23 runs.

Taylor played a crucial role in New Zealand’s victory as he scored 80 runs from 112 balls with five boundaries in the first inning. His partnership of 130 runs with wicketkeeper Tom Latham put the visiting team in a commanding position after which Kane Williamson’s men didn’t look back.

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