Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis on Sunday (August 14) became the talk of the town as he seemingly accused Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain of chucking during ‘The Hundred’ match between Southern Brave and Oval Invincibles at Kennington Oval, London.
Stoinis, who top-scored for the Southern Brave with 27-ball 37, was dismissed by Hasnain after he top-edged a delivery into the hands of Will Jacks at mid-off.
While walking back to the pavilion, Stoinis seemingly took a dig at Hasnain, whose action was reported earlier this year during the Big Bash League (BBL). Stonis’ gesture suggested as if he is alleging the 22-year-old of chucking.
Mohammad Hasnain was first reported by umpire Gerard Abood during the BBL 2021-22 match between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers on January 2. He was then suspended from bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be illegal at the ICC's recognized testing centre in Lahore.
Subsequently, the Pakistani speedster remodelled his action and the ICC cleared him to play at all levels of cricket in June this year.
Stoinis is not the first Australian cricketer to raise questions over Hasnain’s bowling action. He was first accused of having an illegal action by Sydney Sixers skipper Moises Henriques during the BBL.
“Nice throw, mate,” Henriques had told Hasnain after the latter unleashed a bouncer.
“Right from the first game he played and through to the tournament, it seemed that there was a few question marks there,” Henriques also told reporters at the time.
“I didn’t have the protractor out. I guess from my point of view, we knew already it had been reported. I feel like the umpires are a little bit hamstrung in terms of what they can actually do on the cricket field, because they’re so worried about backlash and public opinion.
“I could definitely argue that what he was doing was not in the spirit of the game. And I also agree that possibly I got a little bit emotional and frustrated and I was a bit overt with my comments out in the middle. But you know, I called a spade a spade and that was my opinion.”
