“Behuda zabaan uses kiya hai,” Basit Ali criticizes Mohammad Shami over ‘cartoon giri’ remarks on Inzamam-ul-Haq

Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has criticised Indian ace Mohammad Shami for his ‘cartoon giri’ remarks in response to Inzamam-ul-Haq’s allegations of reverse hitting.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit expressed disappointment over Shami’s choice of words and termed them ‘behuda’ (indecent) and disrespectful.

“When Shami talks about Inzi Bhai and calls him a cartoon, it is not right. Inzamam has led this country and has been its captain. Shami, your choice of words is not right. We applaud your bowling but you should have chosen your words better. You have not chosen your words well and that has hurt me,” said Basit.

“If you think Inzi bhai has said something wrong, say it politely. Don’t call him a cartoon and all that. Have some respect. He is a senior. You should respect your seniors. If you don’t, cricket will make you cry 300 days out of 365 and make you happy only 65 days. So please don’t do this, it’s a personal request,” he added.

For those unaware, Inzamam courted controversy during the 2024 T20 World Cup by alleging that Indian bowlers may have tampered with the ball.

The reason behind his doubts was that left-handed pacer Arshdeep Singh generated reverse swing in the 15th over of Australia’s innings during the Super 8 match in St Lucia.

Almost a month later, Mohammad Shami hit out at the former Pakistan captain over his allegations of ball-tampering.

Shami also denied bizarre allegations made by former Pakistani players during the 2023 World Cup. It was alleged that Indian fast bowlers were given “different and suspicious balls” in the showpiece tournament at home.

“Pakistanis were never happy with us and never will be – someone said we will get a different ball, someone said there is a chip in the ball. I have said before that if I ever get a chance or a platform in the future, I will definitely open the ball and show whether there is a device in it or not. If your bowlers do a swing and a reverse swing, then it is skill, if we do that, then we are messing with the ball and the chip on the ball,” Shami said on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube podcast.

Responding to Inzamam’s allegations, Shami added: “The team playing against them is targeted there. Suppose I bowled with the machine and pressed the wrong button. I wanted to bowl an inswinger but it turned out to be an outswinger, which resulted in a boundary. This kind of cartoonish behaviour can happen elsewhere too; these are just ways to fool the public).”

Shami’s comments angered Basit Ali. He stressed the need for respect for senior players, claiming, “Be a little more careful, you can’t just say anything anywhere. Whatever question is asked, you keep giving ‘behuda’ (indecent) answers. I use the right word, ‘behuda (indecent)’. Aapne behuda zabaan use kiya hai (You have used indecent language). Your elders probably never taught you this.”

Inzamam had specifically questioned how Arshdeep could turn the ball in the 15th over against Australia and asked the umpires to pay close attention to such things.

“Arshdeep Singh, when he bowled in the 15th over, the ball turned. Is it too early (for reverse swing) with the new ball? This means the ball was ready for reverse swing in the 12th or 13th over. Umpires have to keep their eyes open (to spot such things)… If it was Pakistani bowlers (who turned the ball) it would have been a big problem. We know reverse swing very well and if Arshdeep can come in the 15th over and turn the ball, it means some serious work has been done,” Inzamam said this on a Pakistani news channel.