Former Pakistan international cricketer Hasan Raza has claimed that India are being given a different ball which has helped them bowl better than other teams during the 2023 World Cup.

Speaking on a Pakistani news channel after India’s annihilation of Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2, Raza, who played seven Tests and 16 ODIs for Pakistan, questioned the quality of balls given to the Indian bowlers.

The anchor asked Raza his thoughts on whether India are being given balls of a different quality given how much movement they have been able to extract in the ongoing World Cup. To this, Raza replied, “Looking at [Mohammed] Shami and [Mohammed] Siraj bowl, it reminds of the likes of Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini, how they bowled when we used to go play in South Africa.

“The ball used to be shiny on one side and rough on the other, allowing it reverse, seam, and swing. But here I feel like the ball is getting changed mid-innings the way it is behaving. Whether it is the ICC that is providing the balls, or the umpires panel, or the BCCI, there should be an inspection on it. I think the balls should be checked.

Raza also talked about marginal DRS calls going India’s way at the World Cup: “We have also seen that some DRS decisions have gone in favour of India. There have been seven to eight DRS calls that have been close that have gone in India’s favour [at the World Cup].”